The archipelago of the Azores is situated in the North Atlantic, between 36\u00ba to 43\u00ba North latitudes and 26\u00ba to 31\u00ba West longitudes, at approximately 1500 km West from Lisbon and 3600 km East from North America.<\/p>\n
The Azores is characterized by its wide variety of different landscapes and by its richness in terms of environmental, natural and cultural patrimony. The geographical localization of the Azores and its volcanic origins are responsible for a vast amplitude of ecosystems.<\/p>\n
The islands of Corvo, Flores and Graciosa, as well as S. Jorge\u2019s Faj\u00e3s are Biosphere Reserves, as classified by UNESCO. The historical center of Angra do Hero\u00edsmo\u2019s city, in Terceira island, considered to be one of the most remarkable examples of Renaissance urbanism, and the Landscape of the Vineyard Culture, in Pico island, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The entirety of the Azorean territory, encompassing 121 geographically disperse sites of geographic patrimony and marine areas of the nine volcanic islands of the Azores is classified by UNESCO as a Geopark.<\/p>\n
The Azores is also characterized by its geostrategic position between the European, the American and the African continents and is, therefore, a formidable asset for the global projection of the European Union.<\/p>\n
The archipelago is composed by nine islands – S\u00e3o Miguel, Santa Maria, Terceira, Graciosa, Faial, S\u00e3o Jorge, Pico, Flores and Corvo \u2013 with a total surface area of 2\u00a0321 km2<\/sup> and by the surrounding sea, adding up to nearly one million km2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n Along with its remoteness, the geographical spread between the islands intensifies the challenges posed to the Azorean people. For example, the distance between the Corvo island or the Flores island and the Santa Maria island exceeds 600 km.<\/p>\n The population of the Autonomous Region of the Azores is of 245.283 inhabitants, with an average density of 105 inhabitants\/km2<\/sup> and with a GDP\/Capita which has been drawing nearer to the Community average.<\/p>\n The Azores has a temperate maritime climate, with average temperatures of 24\u00b0C in the summer and 13\u00b0C in winter.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n