Praia do Norte
Encyclopedia
Praia do Norte is a civil parish of the municipality of Horta, located along the northern coast between Cedros
and Capelo
, on the island of Faial
, Azores
. It is one of the least populous parishes on the island, reaching 712 inhabitants in the 18th century, but generally about 250 people. It is reached by the E.R. 1-1ª Regional Road that circles the island.
). The parish at one time included the region of Capelo, but it was de-annexed.
The primitive parochial church was destroyed completely by the eruption of Cabeço do Fogo in 1672. At about one in the morning, a violent explosion awoke many of the residents, and forced them from their homes. Two lava flows escaped Cabeço do Fogo towards the north (Praia do Norte) and south (destroying the community of Ribeira do Cabo in Capelo). The northern flow, after pausing to destroy Lameiros, reached Praia do Norte where it covered the parish in black rock, covering the large tracts of arable land. Many of the residents of the northern coast abandoned the area, eventually resulting in the parish being incorporated into the neighboring parish (Capelo). According to Américo Costa (in Dicionário Corográfico) a large part of the inhabitants of both parishes (Capelo and Praia do Norte) were affected by the eruption; homes and farmlands in Ribeira do Cabo (Capelo), Lameiros and Praia do Norte were destroyed. A niche, located at the intersection to Norte Pequeno, currently marks the position of the old church. Some inhabitants returned gradually, planting vineyards and fruit trees and small agricultural farming developed on the higher elevations.
By the beginning of the 18th century 712 inhabitants lived in 180 buildings in the parish. In 1787, a chapel of Nossa Senhora de Penha de França was erected by the Madalena-native José Nunes da Silveira in Fajã da Praia. Another chapel, consecrated in the name of Nossa Senhora das Dores, was constructed in 1797.
Its civil parish status was returned on October 1, 1845, in its entirety. Celebrations marking these circumstances were only realized in 1845.
During the Capelinhos eruption (in 1957/58) the parish received collateral damage: the church of Nossa Senhora das Dores was destroyed completely. Similarly, many of the homes were also affected by the earthquakes associated with the eruptions, and the agricultural lands were, yet again, inundated with ash. A new modernist church was built in late 1961.
, Canada
and Valencia
, Spain
, ran a ground 300 m from the coast. It was transporting 800 containers, of which three were environmentally hazardous, and the vessel was filled with two thousand tons of fuel oil. The tugboats "São Luís" (from the port of Horta) and "São Miguel" (from the port of Ponta Delgada) were called out to assist the crippled vessel, and which were later aided by the Russian tug "Fortiy Frilov" (in order to stabilize the ship in northerly swells). But, the bay's currents forced the ship further to shore, forcing the abandonment of the ship on 25 December. The hulls eventually breached causing an oil spill into the bay and beach at Fajã. Similarly, some containers containing toxic fire retardant, flammable ink and paint and Sodium Persulphate were affected, and several containers were damaged or destroyed during the incident, ejecting other goods into the bay. In the report into the incident, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch noted several failures associated with the incident including lack of crew management and procedures on the part of the operator, the inexperience and lack of seamanship of the master, lack of proper nautical charts and anchoring experience. At that time, the incident brought world attention to Fajã da Praia, Faial
and the Azores
.
Cedros (Horta)
Cedros is a civil parish in the northern part of the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Portuguese Azores. The population as of 2001 was approximately 1048, covering an area of 24.53 km²...
and Capelo
Capelo
Capelo is a civil parish in the municipality of Horta on the island of Faial in the Azorean archipelago. The population as of 2001 was approximately 493, its density is 19/km² and the area is 25.93 km²...
, on the island of Faial
Faial Island
Faial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
, 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...
. It is one of the least populous parishes on the island, reaching 712 inhabitants in the 18th century, but generally about 250 people. It is reached by the E.R. 1-1ª Regional Road that circles the island.
Geography
The parish is part of the Capelo Volcanic Complex, a geologic area of layered ash and pyroclastic deposits produced less than 10,000 years ago. The rural town occupies the space along the Regional Road, while summer homes and some permanent residents occupy the "fajã" along the coast. Fajã is the term used to define a small extension of land, located along the ocean, formed from rock debris or a volcanic delta formed from lava meeting the ocean. The bay in Faja is naturally protected, resulting in a dark sand beach during the summer, although this area is generally known for its large waves throughout the year. The eastern portion of the parish is a tall and abrupt cliff that is connected to Cedros plateau.History
This parish, and its church, were first referenced on June 30, 1567, for its fertile soil (which produced many of the islands cerals, beans and fruits). By 1643, there were 274 inhabitants and 77 homes in the area (as referenced by Diogo das ChagasDiogo das Chagas
Diogo das Chagas was a Franciscan monk and Azorean historian, author of Espelho Cristalino, an important resource on the colonization of the islands of the central and western groups of the Portuguese Azores, after 1640.-Biography:He was the son of Mateus Coelho da Costa, Captain-major of the...
). The parish at one time included the region of Capelo, but it was de-annexed.
The primitive parochial church was destroyed completely by the eruption of Cabeço do Fogo in 1672. At about one in the morning, a violent explosion awoke many of the residents, and forced them from their homes. Two lava flows escaped Cabeço do Fogo towards the north (Praia do Norte) and south (destroying the community of Ribeira do Cabo in Capelo). The northern flow, after pausing to destroy Lameiros, reached Praia do Norte where it covered the parish in black rock, covering the large tracts of arable land. Many of the residents of the northern coast abandoned the area, eventually resulting in the parish being incorporated into the neighboring parish (Capelo). According to Américo Costa (in Dicionário Corográfico) a large part of the inhabitants of both parishes (Capelo and Praia do Norte) were affected by the eruption; homes and farmlands in Ribeira do Cabo (Capelo), Lameiros and Praia do Norte were destroyed. A niche, located at the intersection to Norte Pequeno, currently marks the position of the old church. Some inhabitants returned gradually, planting vineyards and fruit trees and small agricultural farming developed on the higher elevations.
By the beginning of the 18th century 712 inhabitants lived in 180 buildings in the parish. In 1787, a chapel of Nossa Senhora de Penha de França was erected by the Madalena-native José Nunes da Silveira in Fajã da Praia. Another chapel, consecrated in the name of Nossa Senhora das Dores, was constructed in 1797.
Its civil parish status was returned on October 1, 1845, in its entirety. Celebrations marking these circumstances were only realized in 1845.
During the Capelinhos eruption (in 1957/58) the parish received collateral damage: the church of Nossa Senhora das Dores was destroyed completely. Similarly, many of the homes were also affected by the earthquakes associated with the eruptions, and the agricultural lands were, yet again, inundated with ash. A new modernist church was built in late 1961.
CP Valour and the Fajã Oil Spill
On December 9, 2005 while attempting to navigate to calm waters in the Bay of Praia do Fajã, the container vessel CP Valour, a Bermudan-registered ship, originally traveling between MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Valencia
Valencia (city in Spain)
Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, ran a ground 300 m from the coast. It was transporting 800 containers, of which three were environmentally hazardous, and the vessel was filled with two thousand tons of fuel oil. The tugboats "São Luís" (from the port of Horta) and "São Miguel" (from the port of Ponta Delgada) were called out to assist the crippled vessel, and which were later aided by the Russian tug "Fortiy Frilov" (in order to stabilize the ship in northerly swells). But, the bay's currents forced the ship further to shore, forcing the abandonment of the ship on 25 December. The hulls eventually breached causing an oil spill into the bay and beach at Fajã. Similarly, some containers containing toxic fire retardant, flammable ink and paint and Sodium Persulphate were affected, and several containers were damaged or destroyed during the incident, ejecting other goods into the bay. In the report into the incident, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch noted several failures associated with the incident including lack of crew management and procedures on the part of the operator, the inexperience and lack of seamanship of the master, lack of proper nautical charts and anchoring experience. At that time, the incident brought world attention to Fajã da Praia, Faial
Faial Island
Faial Island , also known in English as Fayal, is a Portuguese island of the Central Group of the Azores....
and 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...
.