The Azores Islands are a Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean, located about 1,500 km from Lisbon. Consisting of nine islands, the Azores are divided into three groups: the eastern (Sao Miguel and Santa Maria islands), the central (Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial islands), and the western (Flores and Corvo islands).
The Azores originated as a result of the 1766 volcanoes, nine of which are still active.