In the blue Atlantic Ocean, between two continents

The Azores Archipelago emerges from the Atlantic Ocean almost half way between Europe (a distance of 1815km) and North America (a distance from Canada of 2625km). Comprising nine islands, with a total area of 2,325 km2, the Azores have about 244.780 inhabitants (census 2008). A constituent part of the Portuguese State and of the Macaronesia Region, the Autonomous Region of the Azores is located between 25º and 31' longitude west and between 37º 40' latitude north. The western most point of the European continent is, in fact, Flores Island.

The nine islands of the archipelago are divided in three geographical groups. The Eastern Group, which comprises Santa Maria and São Miguel; the Central Group includes Faial, Graciosa, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira; finally the Western Group comprises Corvo and Flores.