GEOGRAPHY
With the shape of an irregular pentagon and an area of 173.42 Km2, the island of Faial has a length of 21 Km and a maximum width of 14 Km. Dominated by the volcanic cone of Caldeira, which has gentle slopes interrupted by secondary volcanic formations, the island has its highest point at Cabeço Gordo, with an altitude of 1,043 metres.
HISTORY
Called Ventura on old charts and Sao Luiz at the time of its discovery by Portuguese navigators, its first inhabitant, according to legend, was a hermit who sought refuge from the world there. Later Josse van Huerter, a wealthy Flemming, accompanied by fifteen fellow-countrymen, landed on the island, which was already inhabited by settlers from Portugal. He was searching for the tin and silver deposits that were said to exist in the island.
The first prospecting proved that a mistake had been made and caused the failure of the expedition. But Van Huerter, excited by the island and its fertility, did not give up. Through the intercession of the Duchess of Burgundy, a daughter of King Joao I of Portugal, he obtained a letter patent in 1468, naming him donee of the island and giving him the right to bring more settlers from Flanders, scourged by the Hundred Years' War.
These Flemings settled in the parish of Flamengos - the very name of which recalls their origin . and later in the Horta area. The island prospered due to agriculture and the export of the dye-yielding plant called woad. In 1583, as part of the occupation of the Azores which began with the landing on Terceira island, a Spanish fleet sailed to Faial.
A body of armed men landed at Pasteleiro and engaged the defenders, who were reinforced by French troops. The Spaniards finally overcame the resistance and conquered the island. This was followed by attacks by English privateers, which caused large-scale damage, and much later by the destructive earthquake of 1672. In the l9th century Faial took an active part in the struggle between liberals and absolutists. In the end it was won over by the former and received a visit from King Pedro IV in 1832.
The island contributed a group of brave combatants to the liberal cause and also an arsenal that was used to supply the fleet that landed at Mindelo in northern Portugal. Until about 1860, Faial's position in the Atlantic and the existence of a sheltered port attracted cargo boats engaged in the orange trade and American whalers, who called there to put on supplies.
In the first half of the 20th century Faial was an important centre for underwater cable links and took part in the pioneer period of aviation. Today Faial is a developing island, with an economy based on agriculture, livestock raising, the dairy industry, fishing and trade.
Capelinhos. Site of the volcanic eruption of 1957-58. At first an islet appeared, but it eventually joined the main body of the island, forming a cape with scarps of hundreds of metres. Volcanic ashes covered houses and fields, transforming the scenery.
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