Santa Maria Island 1583508 221879396 2008-06-26T14:25:52Z 78.29.144.28 /* External links */ {{dablink|This article is about the island in the [[Azores]]. For Santa María Island of the Galápagos, see [[Floreana Island]].}} {{Infobox Islands | name = Santa Maria Island | image name = | image caption = | image size = | locator map = Santa Maria-pos.png | native name = | native name link = Portugal | nickname = | location = [[Atlantic Ocean]] | coordinates = | archipelago = [[Azores Islands]] | total islands = | major islands = | area = 97.18 km² | highest mount = [[Pico Alto]] | elevation = 590 m | country = Portugal | country admin divisions title = [[Administrative divisions of Portugal|Autonomous Region]] | country admin divisions = [[Azores Islands]] | country admin divisions title 1 = | country admin divisions 1 = | country capital city = | country largest city = [[Vila do Porto]] | country largest city population = 5,511 | country leader title = | country leader name = | population = 5,511 | population as of = 2003 | density = | ethnic groups = | additional info = }} The island of '''Santa Maria''' ([[Pronunciation|pron.]] {{IPA2|'sɐ̃tɐ mɐ'ɾiɐ}}; [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for [[Saint Mary]]) is an island located in the southeastern part of the [[Azores]] and is the southernmost island in the Azores Islands. It was the first island in the Azores Archipelago to be discovered. The discoverer of the island was [[Diogo Silves]] during his journey to [[Madeira]] in [[1427]]. [[Gonçalo Velho]] brought families and [[cattle]] to the island. The area of the island is 97.18 km². The island contains one municipality named [[Vila do Porto]] that has the oldest Azorean villages. The island also has old houses with windows that belonged to [[Capitão Donatário]], dating back to the [[15th century]]. Due to its geological age (the island was formed 4.8 million years ago), Santa Maria is the only island in the Azores with an abundance of sediments. It is in these sediments that marine fossils have been discovered. The houses are spread all across the island. Alentejana houses generally have large chimneys. The land is very fertile and the rural landscape has great beauty. The island also produces arts, crafts and pottery. Fish processing also takes place on the island. The island is divided into two regions: *A flat, very dry and sunshine-rich area with the main town Vila do Porto (founded around [[1430]]) and a civilian airport, [[Santa Maria Airport (Azores)|Santa Maria Airport]]. The airport was an American air base until the end of the [[World War II|Second World War]]. *The other parts are hilly. The highest point on the island is [[Pico Alto]], at 590m above sea level. The clouds that hang in the mountains provide the area with moisture for rich vegetation and it permits a small amount of agriculture. On 8th February 1989, a Boeing 707 of [[Independent Air Flight 1851]] crashed at Pico Alto killing all 137 passengers and 7 members of the crew. The island of [[Flores Island|Flores]] was first mentioned in the [[16th century]] after Santa Maria. [[Christopher Columbus]] attended Mass in this Island, on his return from the [[Americas]], in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, dedicated to the [[Holy Spirit]]. ==External links== * {{en}} [http://theazoresislands.blogspot.com/search/label/Santa%20Maria%20Island The Azores Islands, Site with abundant information about Santa Maria Island] * {{en}} [http://www.gavilaphoto.com/pagina.aspx?keywords=santa%20maria Photos of Santa Maria island, Azores] {{Azores Islands}} {{Outlying territories of European countries}} {{coor title dm|36|58|N|25|06|W|type:isle}} [[Category:Santa Maria Island| ]] [[ca:Illa de Santa Maria]] [[de:Santa Maria (Insel)]] [[et:Santa Maria (Assoorid)]] [[es:Isla de Santa Maria (Azores)]] [[eu:Santa Maria (Azoreak)]] [[gl:Illa de Santa María]] [[nn:Santa Maria i Azorane]] [[pl:Santa Maria (wyspa na Azorach)]] [[pt:Ilha de Santa Maria]] [[ro:Santa Maria (insulă)]] [[ru:Санта-Мария (Азорские острова)]] [[fi:Santa Maria (saari)]] [[sv:Santa Maria (ö)]]