Pico Island

Pico Island, also known as Ilha do Pico, is one of the beautiful islands in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores. It is famous for its tall volcano called Ponta do Pico. This volcano is the highest mountain in all of Portugal and the Azores. It also marks the highest point of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Because of its dark volcanic soil, Pico Island is sometimes called the "Black Island." This soil helps grow excellent grapes, and the vineyards there are very important. Long ago, these vineyards helped the island's economy grow.

Pico is the second largest island in the Azores and is very young from a geological point of view. It is about 300,000 years old. Its landscapes and history make it a special place to learn about nature and tradition.

History

We do not know exactly when Pico Island was found. Early maps from the 1300s and 1400s show Pico as part of the Azores islands. People started living on Pico in the 1480s. It was the last of the Central Group islands to be settled.

At first, life was difficult because the volcanic soil was hard to work and there were few rivers. By 1695, about 9,000 people lived there. The population grew to over 19,000 by the mid-1700s. People farmed wheat, made dyes from lichens, and grew grapes for wine. Even though volcanic eruptions sometimes caused trouble, wine became very important to the island’s economy. Later, diseases hurt the grapevines, but whaling helped the island’s economy until it stopped in 1986. Today, an old whale factory serves as a museum.

A traditional windmill along the coast of Monte, in the municipality of Madalena

Geography

Physical geography

Pico Island is part of the Central Group of the Azores islands. It is the second largest island in the Azores, stretching 46.3 kilometers long and up to 16 kilometers wide. The island has a coastline of 151.8 kilometers with inlets and coves, but no sandy beaches. Seabirds like terns and shearwaters nest along the rocky coasts.

View of the stratovolcano near the Pico Wine Museum

The landscape has three main areas: the ancient Topo Volcano on the southern side, the Achada Plateau in the east with its ridges and lakes, and the Pico Volcano in the west. Pico Volcano is 2,351 meters (7,713 feet) tall, the highest mountain in Portugal and the Azores.

The last known volcanic eruption happened in 1963, far off the northwest coast. Earlier eruptions left visible lava paths that stretch over 10 kilometers.

Earthquakes

High altitude area of the island, showing cloud cover adjacent to the summit

Pico sometimes has earthquakes, mostly between Pico and nearby islands. One earthquake in 1757 damaged buildings and caused deaths. Another in 1998 shook the island but caused only minor damage.

Biome

Pico has large areas of native forests, more than any other Azores island. These include laurisilva and broadleaf forests. Over time, non-native plants were added, changing some natural areas.

The two islets at the entrance to Madalena harbor, formed from a submerged crater

Climate

Pico has a mild maritime climate with lots of rain and humidity. Temperatures range from about 14°C (58°F) in winter to 22°C (72°F) in summer at lower elevations. Higher up, temperatures drop, and Mount Pico can even see snow. The highest temperature ever recorded in the Azores, 32.1°C (89.8°F), was measured on Pico in 1985.

Human geography

Pico’s land has shaped where people live and work. Most towns are along the coast. The biggest towns are Madalena, São Roque do Pico, and Lajes do Pico.

The island’s population has been shrinking since the mid-20th century, especially in the 1960s and 1970s when many people left. By 2021, the population was about 13,895. The island has an aging population, with more people aged 25–64 than younger or older groups.

Population of
Pico Island
(1695–2019)
Year	Pop.	±%
1695	10,028	—
1747	19,748	+96.9%
1776	21,061	+6.6%
1795	22,310	+5.9%
1849	31,000	+39.0%
1900	24,500	−21.0%
1930	20,500	−16.3%
1960	21,837	+6.5%
1981	15,483	−29.1%
1991	15,202	−1.8%
2001	14,806	−2.6%
2011	14,148	−4.4%
2021	13,895	−1.8%

Economy

Pico Island used to depend a lot on the nearby island of Faial. Now, the people of Pico are more independent. Fishing is very important, especially catching tuna for cans, and many women help process the fish. The island also has dairy farms that make special cheeses.

Today, many jobs are in services and government work, which helps bring good jobs to people. Tourism is growing, with new hotels and fun activities for visitors. Pico was once known for whaling, but that stopped in the 1980s. Now, people show visitors the old whaling sites and watch whales in the ocean.

Pico Wine and vine culture

Main article: Pico IPR

Grapes have grown on Pico Island since the late 1400s. The special Verdelho grapes grow well in the island’s dark volcanic soil and stone walls. These grapes were once sent all over Europe and even to Russia! Today, wine making isn’t as big as before, but the beautiful vineyards are very important to the island’s history and were named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2004 (see Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture).

Sustainable tourism

In 2012, Pico Island won the QualityCoast Gold Award for trying to be a sustainable tourism place. Because of this award, Pico was picked to be in a global guide for sustainable travel called DestiNet.

Notable people

Some famous people were born on Pico Island.

José da Costa Nunes (1880 in Candelaria do Pico – 1976) was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Bishop of Macau.
José Vieira Alvernaz (1898 in Ribeirinha - 1986) was a Portuguese church leader and Bishop of Cochin.
Arquimínio Rodrigues da Costa (1924 in São Mateus – 2016) was a church leader and Bishop of the Diocese of Macau.
Fernando Machado Soares (1930 in São Roque do Pico – 2014) was a fado singer and poet.
Caesar DePaço (born 1965 in Madalena) is a businessman.
Duarte Freitas (born 1966 in São Roque do Pico) is a politician.