Pico Island

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Pico
Pico Island seen from the harbor of Horta, Faial
Pico Island seen from the harbor of Horta, Faial
Geography
Location Atlantic Ocean
Archipelago Azores Islands
Area 447 km²
Highest point Mount Pico
2,351 m
Administration
Flag of Portugal Portugal
Autonomous Region Azores Islands
Largest city Madalena (6,184)
Demographics
Population 15,000

Pico Island (Portuguese: Ilha do Pico, pron. IPA: ['iʎɐ du 'piku]) is an island of the Azores noted for its eponymous volcano, Ponta de Pico (Pico Alto), which is the highest mountain of Portugal and also the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The island is 17.5 km south of São Jorge (Ilha de São Jorge) and just 7 km west of Faial (Ilha do Faial). It is 42 km long and has a maximum width of 15 km and an area of 447 km², making it the second largest of the Azores islands. The main settlements are the capital Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico, the total population is around 15,000.

The volcano is in the south-west of the island, at 38.47 N, 28.40 W. It is a basaltic stratovolcano 2,351 m high with steep sides. The last eruption on the island was in 1963, with a small submarine eruption off the northwest coast. Prior major eruptions were in 1562-64, 1718 and 1720. The paths of the lava flows are still visible, those of the 16th century and 1718 were particularly substantial, extending for over 10 km.

The island supported a substantial whaling industry until 1980. The position of the island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge means that deep water is very close. Active industries include tourism, ship-building and wine production. Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. It has a notable wine, the Pico Wine (Vinho do Pico).

Aerial view of Pico

Madalena and Mount Pico

Pico as seen from Faial

Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture, Criacao Velha, Pico

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Azores Islands - Arquipélago dos Açores

Eastern Group: Santa Maria | São Miguel
Central Group: Terceira | Graciosa | São Jorge | Pico | Faial
Western Group: Flores | Corvo
Islets: Formigas | Vila Franca Islet | Sabrina Island | Mosteiros Islets | Cabras Islets | Fradinhos | Topo Islet | Rosais Islets | Praia Islet | Baixo Islet | Madalena Islets | Monchique Islet
Reefs, banks and seamounts: Dollabarat | Princess Alice Bank | Dom João de Castro Bank | Hydrothermal vents of the Azores
Caves: Gruta das Torres | Algar do Carvão

 Bandeira dos Açores
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World Heritage Sites in Portugal

Alto Douro Wine Region · Historic Centre of Angra do Heroísmo, Azores · Batalha Monastery · Convent of Christ, Tomar · Cultural Landscape of Sintra · Historic Centre of Évora · Historic Centre of Guimarães · Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture · Laurisilva of Madeira · Alcobaça Monastery · Monastery of the Hieronymites and Belém Tower, Lisbon · Historic Centre of Porto · Prehistoric Rock-Art Sites in the Côa Valley
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