São Miguel City Map Poster

About São Miguel

The island is located in the eastern-central portion of the archipelago, along with Flores and Corvo. It is formed by a massive stratovolcano which rises from sea level to an altitude of 1,723 m (5,659 ft), covered in green vegetation; it has been designated as one of 28 different protected landscapes in Portugal. The base of this volcano includes several lakes: Lagoa das Sete Cidades (Seven Cities Lagoon), Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake) and Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon). There are several craters visible from the island including Gruta das Torres within Pico da Barrosa on its southern end. São Miguel Island was discovered on Saint Michael's Day - September 29 - by Portuguese navigators João Teixeira and his son Tristão Vaz Teixeira during their first expedition to reach Terra Australis.[1] They landed at Porto Pim on November 11 after a voyage that began May 21 from Lisbon.