Geography
The municipality is one of six municipalities that make-up the island of São Miguel, an area that extends from the northern communities along the Atlantic coast to the volcanic mountains along the center of the island. It is situated between the municipalities of Nordeste (on the east), Povoação (in the southeast), Ponta Delgada (in the west), Lagoa and Vila Franca do Campo (in the south). All these communities are linked by several regional roads that circle the island, as well as intersecting the mountains in the central zone.
Ribeira Grande's relief is dominated by the Serra de Água de Pau volcanic massif, and lying within its caldera the crater lake Lagoa do Fogo (the highest altitude here is Pico da Barrosa at 947m or Monte Escuro, at 890m), but also extends to the Graminhais Plateau in the eastern border with Nordeste (Pico do Salto do Cavalo, 954m). These elevations, and the existence of many springs in the foothills, have been responsible for the fast-flowing ravines, one of which gave rise to the municipalities name. Other volcanic aspects manifest themselves in the fumaroles, such as Caldeira Velha or Caldeiras, and also the warm mineral springs in Lombadas, Gramas and Ladeira da Velha.
In addition to many river-valleys that carve the landscape in this region, the municipality is also dotted by several beaches, including the main beach in Ribeira Grande (Santa Bárbara and Monte Verde beaches), Moinhos Beach (Porto Formoso) and Viola Beach, secluded in the shadow of Lomba da Maia.
The municipality is divided into 14 sub-regional administrative units, or freguesias, equivalent to civil parishes:
- Calhetas
- Conceição (Ribeira Grande)
- Fenais da Ajuda
- Lomba da Maia
- Lomba de São Pedro
- Maia
- Matriz (Ribeira Grande)
- Pico da Pedra
- Porto Formoso
- Rabo de Peixe
- Ribeira Seca
- Ribeirinha
- Santa Bárbara
- São Brás
The largest parish in population and density is Rabo de Peixe smallest parish in population is São Brás. The leastly populated parish in density and population is Lomba de São Pedro. The largest parish is Maia and the smallest is Calhetas. The highest parish is Lomba da Maia.
Read more about this topic: Ribeira Grande (Azores)
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