Povoação, Azores


Povoação is a municipality located in the southeastern corner of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The population in 2011 was 6,327, in an area of 106.41 km².

History

Colonization of the island is commonly associated with the settlement of Povoação Velha, the first colony on the island of São Miguel. In 1427, Diogo Dilva first arrived in the area of Povoação, accompanied by several men: "Arriving here on the island, the nine discoverers took land in the place where today we call Povoação Velha for which they made later...and, disembarked between two fresh ravines of clear, sweet and cold waters, between the cliffs and high lands, all covered in greenery of cedro, laurel, ginger and faias, and other diverse". From the beginning, the locality impressed the settlers, since it was abundant in vegetation, to them indicating a fertile land.
In 1432, Gonçalo Velho Cabral, then first Captain-Donatário of São Miguel, chose the locality for the first settlement on the island. From this location they began to transport cattle, wheat seed, legumes and agricultural implements in order to make the settlement viable. On 2 July 1439, a royal decree from Infante D. Pedro, regent to King Afonso V, ordered Infante Henry to send sheep to the seven islands of the Azores.
During the 18th century, the region became a center of naval construction, owing to the abundance of wood in the immediate area.
The community of Povoação was elevated to the status of municipality in 1839, when it was de-annexed from the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo and later, Nordeste. The parish church, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Mãe de Deus, was constructed from 24 July 1848, and emblematic for is gilded wood alterpeices and the image of its patron. On 4 July 1865 the parish council building was first inaugurated, later to be the site of the municipalities local government.
The municipality, and in particular the town of Povoação, was damaged during the 1935 earthquake. Construction on the municipal garden began in the 1940s, during the execution of the reconstruction program for the urban nucleus.

Geography

With an area of, Povoação is located east of the regional capital of Ponta Delgada and former historical capital, Vila Franca do Campo, along the southern extent of the Estrada Regional E.R. 1-1ª that circles the entire island. It is bordered on the east and northeast by the municipality of Nordeste, to the north by Ribeira Grande, and west by Vila Franca do Campo.

Physical geography

The municipality occupies the semi-active craters of the Furnas and Povoação volcanoes, circled by forests, mountains and river valleys to the north, west and east, while the Atlantic coast to the south. From 100,000 to 95,000 years ago, the Povoação crater, associated with the volcano, consists of volcanic products that were emitted from this volcano of the same name, that overlay the Volcanic Complex of Nordeste. Corresponding basaltic lava flows and other volcanic ejectants, the top of this formation is covered by materials involved in explosive eruptions from the Furnas volcano.
With about 100000-year history, the Furnas volcano is the youngest of the active volcanoes of São Miguel. The rock and mineral deposits are divided into three groups, consisting essentially of trachyte materials, constituted by pyroclastic deposits and flows resulting from explosive eruptions, lava flows and surges. The inferior layer includes most pyroclastic materials and volcanic products in the formation of the Povoação Ignimbrite. The intermediate layer includes material produced between 30,000 years and 5,000 years ago. Finally, the superior layer includes all activities until 5000 years ago.
Much of the remainder of the land is occupied by agricultural lands, specifically on the fertile plains over the river valleys. These geological structures resulted in a diversified landscape, dotted by parks, lookouts, belvederes, beaches and salient waters, including the Lagoa das Furnas a volcanic crater lake and the manicured gardens of the Terra Nostra Garden. The Furnas valley is a source of important horological resources, resulting from the active volcanism of the region, with fumaroles, boiling mud, thermal baths and at least one recognized tepid beach. This valley includes 22 classified mineral-rich medicinal waters.

Human geography

With a population of 7000 inhabitants, the municipality consists of six civil parishes, which include:
The largest civil parish is Povoação; the smallest parish is Água Retorta, while Faial da Terra is the most spare community; while Ribeira Quente is the smallest civil parish by area.

Economy

The municipality is sustained by the agriculture and fishing industries, with many of the businesses and commerce situated in the coastal urban center of Povoação. Tourism is also an important part of the regional activities with places like Furnas attracting naturalists and leisure activities.

Architecture

Civic