Graciosa

Graciosa ( German: petite ) is the second smallest island of the Azores. It forms, with Faial, Pico, São Jorge and Terceira, the central group of the archipelago and is located in the north. The island covers an area of ​​60.84 km ² and has an approximately oval shape. The largest north-south dimension is 10 km, the largest east - west distance 7 km. Capital of the island is Santa Cruz da Graciosa with about 1,800 inhabitants ( 2001 census ), the entire island inhabit only some 5,000 people. In recent years, caused by the purely agricultural economy, labor migration seems to have halted.

History

Graciosa was discovered on May 2, 1450 by Vasco Gil Sodré the settlers. He came from the neighboring and 30 nautical miles distant island of Terceira and settled permanently on the island with his family down.

Management

Graciosa belongs to the Autonomous Region of the Azores, which belongs to the Republic of Portugal. The island consists of only one circuit ( concelho ), the da Graciosa has its headquarters in the same town of Santa Cruz.

In the circle are four municipalities:

• Guadalupe
• Luz
• Praia (São Mateus )
• Santa Cruz

Geography

The island is of volcanic origin. In the south of the island is located at 402 meters above sea level, the highest point of a large caldera. The island is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which extends in a north-south direction over the North Atlantic.

Graciosa is largely deforested. Grains, fruits and wine are grown in the fertile soil on with lava Dry Stone Walls little sheltered areas. In addition, cattle management on the island.

Energy supply

The German energy company Younicos 's mission is to realize the conversion of the power supply to renewable energy through solar and wind power and vegetable oil on the entire island. At the company headquarters in Berlin- Adlershof the power system of the island was rebuilt already in 1:3 scale. It was the evidence is given that a stable supply on a renewable basis is feasible and long term profitable today. By 2014, the system of Younicos should be installed ( based on intelligently controlled buffers ) on the island.