Lajes do Pico
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Lajes do Pico is a small town ( Vila ) on the Portuguese island of Pico, part of the archipelago of the Azores. On 30 June 2011, the city had 1795 inhabitants ² on an area of 53.1 km.
Geography
The city is located on the south coast of the island. The terrain is mountainous in the northern part and is shallower, until it finally reaches the Atlantic Ocean to the south. The only road that connects the northern and the southern part of the island leads through the mountains of the island.
History
The Pico island was populated from 1460. In 1500 already lived a number of men in Lajes, so that the place was in 1501 the seat of the newly established district administration of the island. The circle Lajes covered the entire island until 1542 the district of São Roque do Pico and in 1723 additionally the circle Madalena by splits and realignments were created.
After initially wheat and coloring plants were grown, the island turned to the 16th century the production of wine. This was the main export until mildew had to go back in the 19th century viticulture.
From the 18th century then the whaling became the most important and best-known activity on the island. Lajes do Pico became a major base of Whaling in the Azores. 1984, the professional whaling was set in the Azores. 1987 last whale was caught, and 1988 in Lajes a museum opened to the history of whaling is dedicated to.
Management
Circle
Lajes do Pico is the administrative seat of the homonymous district ( concelho ). The other two counties on the island are in the north of São Roque do Pico and to the west Madalena.
The following municipalities ( Freguesias ) are in the circle:
- Calheta de Nesquim
- Lajes do Pico
- Piedade
- Ribeiras
- Ribeirinha
- São João
Demographics
Local holiday
- June 29
Twinning
- Portugal Portugal Machico, Madeira Island
- Spain: Betancuria, Canary Island Fuerteventura
Sons and daughters of the town
- Anselmo Silveira da Silva (1833-1912), whaling entrepreneurs in the U.S. and the Azores
- João Paulino de Azevedo e Castro (1852-1918), Bishop of Macau
- Amaro de Azevedo Gomes (1852-1928), military and Republican politicians, 1910/1911 Navy and Overseas Minister
- Francisco de Lacerda Soares Machado (1870-1955), military historian, ethnographer and author
- José Vieira Alvernaz (1898-1986), Archbishop of Goa