Pico da Pedra
Encyclopedia
Pico da Pedra is a civil parish
in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese
archipelago of the Azores
. The population in 2001 is 2426 and occupying an area of 6.58 km² (there are approximately 369 inhabitants per kilometres square).
The origin of its name derives from the 234 metre mountain in the south of the settlement, a volcanic cone that first encountered during the exploration of the island, and which scattered basaltic lava in its surroundings.
It was only in the 20th century, that the parish developed intiatives to improve the quality of life in Pico da Pedra, that included the establishment of social centre, cooperative for habitation and consume, sports fields, a Casa do Povo, daycare and seniors centres, as well as informative services.
and Fenais da Luz
, south by Fajã de Cima
, São Roque
and Livramento
and east by the parish of Rabo de Peixe
.
Although official records suggest that 2426 inhabitants live in the parishes localities, the number has grown, with local estimates hovering around 3000 residents. Pico da Pedra has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (praça).
The growth of pedestrianism on the islands of the Azores, was the impetus for the creation of the ecological association Amigos dos Açores, whose headquarters is located in Pico da Pedra.
Freguesia
Freguesia is the Portuguese term for a secondary local administrative unit in Portugal and some of its former colonies, and a former secondary local administrative unit in Macau, roughly equivalent to an administrative parish. A freguesia is a subdivision of a concelho, the Portuguese synonym term...
in the municipality of Ribeira Grande in the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
archipelago of the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
. The population in 2001 is 2426 and occupying an area of 6.58 km² (there are approximately 369 inhabitants per kilometres square).
History
The settlement of the area began at the beginning of the 16th century.The origin of its name derives from the 234 metre mountain in the south of the settlement, a volcanic cone that first encountered during the exploration of the island, and which scattered basaltic lava in its surroundings.
It was only in the 20th century, that the parish developed intiatives to improve the quality of life in Pico da Pedra, that included the establishment of social centre, cooperative for habitation and consume, sports fields, a Casa do Povo, daycare and seniors centres, as well as informative services.
Geography
Pico da Pedra is a landlocked parish situated in the interior in the northern coast of the island of São Miguel, approximately eight kilometres from the Ponta Delgada and ten kilometes from municipal seat of Ribeira Grande. It is surrounded in the north and west by the parishes of CalhetasCalhetas
Calhetas is a parish in the district of Ribeira Grande in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 780, its density is 166/km² and the area is 4.7 km². Calhetas is the smallest parish in area in Ribeira Grande.-Geography:...
and Fenais da Luz
Fenais da Luz
Fenais da Luz is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese Azores. In 2001 its population was less than 2000 inhabitants in an administrative area that is less than approximately 10 km²...
, south by Fajã de Cima
Fajã de Cima
Fajã de Cima is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Fajã de Cima is located in the central Picos region of the island of São Miguel, with a population of 3634 and area of approximately 11.89 km²...
, São Roque
São Roque (Ponta Delgada)
São Roque is a parish in the district of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 4414, its density is 613.06/km² and the area is 7.2 km². is famous for its beaches which is known as Praia da Milicia which is not far from the parish. It is linked with a road connecting Ponta...
and Livramento
Livramento (Ponta Delgada)
Livramento is a civil parish in the municipality of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Around 2001 there were approximately 3489 inhabitants in this southern coast, that extends into the interior covering an area of 5.59 km²...
and east by the parish of Rabo de Peixe
Rabo de Peixe
Rabo de Peixe is a parish in the district of Ribeira Grande in the Azores. The population in 2001 was 7407, its density is 437.7/km² and its area is 16.92 km². It is the most populous and most densely populated parish in Ribeira Grande. It has an altitude of 29 m .-Geography:Rabo de...
.
Although official records suggest that 2426 inhabitants live in the parishes localities, the number has grown, with local estimates hovering around 3000 residents. Pico da Pedra has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (praça).
The growth of pedestrianism on the islands of the Azores, was the impetus for the creation of the ecological association Amigos dos Açores, whose headquarters is located in Pico da Pedra.