Pedro Miguel (Horta)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pedro Miguel | |
|---|---|
 Ponta de João Dias promontory, in the civil parish of Pedro Miguel, showing the eastern coast of Faial to Ribeirinha | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Location of the civil parish of Pedro Miguel within the municipality of Horta | |
| Coordinates: 38°34′29″N 28°37′7″W / 38.57472°N 28.61861°W | |
| Country |  Portugal |
| Auton. region | Azores |
| Island | Faial |
| Municipality | Horta |
| Established | Settlement: fl.1600 Parish: c.1616 |
| Area | |
• Total | 14.48 km2 (5.59 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 121 m (397 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
• Total | 759 |
| • Density | 52.4/km2 (136/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC−01:00 (AZOT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+00:00 (AZOST) |
| Postal code | 9900-429 |
| Area code | 292 |
| Patron | Nossa Senhora da Ajuda |
| Website | http://www.jfpedromiguel.pt/ |
Pedro Miguel (pronounced [ˈpe.dɾu mi.ˈɡɛl]) is a freguesia ("civil parish") in the northeastern part of the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores. Pedro Miguel is located 6 km north of the city of Horta on the main regional road that encircles the island. The population in 2011 was 759,[1] in an area of 14.48 km2.[2]
The first record of the parish, which was named for one of the original inhabitants, dated August 7, 1590, came from a financial transaction between King Sebastian who sent the vicar 25 thousand reis (ostensibly for construction or furnishing of their church).
Pedro Miguel became a parish in 1666. In order to protect itself from surprise attacks by pirates that roamed the Canal, a small fort Forte Baixo was constructed in the 17th century.
In 1871, both a boys' and a girls' school operated from Pedro Miguel, since the community was part of a greater district that included Ribeirinha and Praia do Almoxarife. A justice of the peace operated from this district, where the electoral assembly was also situated. The population had reached 1,757 inhabitants by this time.
During the 1998 earthquake, which hit affected the northern communities of the island, several houses were damaged and the parochial church was irreparably damaged.
Geography
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The parish of Pedro Miguel is situated in an area between Lomba dos Frades and Lomba Grande, and is bisected by the Ribeira de Pedro Miguel. It contains the localities Abegoaria, Arrochela, Atras da Ladeira, Caminho Redondo, Grota Funda, Rua da Igreja and Rua Velha.
Ecoregions/Protected areas
Grota Funda is a cave located in a large volcanic crater located west of the parish centre, and which founded fragments of vegetable coals.
