Norte Grande (Azores)

Norte Grande
Neves
Civil Parish
Vista to Fajã do Ouvidor, along the northern coast of São Jorge in the civil parish of Norte Grande
Official name: Freguesia de Norte Grande
Name origin: Portuguese for great north
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Island São Jorge
Municipality Velas
Localities Fajã da Ribeira da Areia, Fajã de Além, Fajã do Ouvidor, Norte Grande, Outeiro, Santo António, Ribeira da Areia
Center Nossa Senhora dos Neves
 - elevation 343 m (1,125 ft)
 - coordinates 38°40′10″N 28°3′30″W / 38.66944°N 28.05833°W / 38.66944; -28.05833Coordinates: 38°40′10″N 28°3′30″W / 38.66944°N 28.05833°W / 38.66944; -28.05833
Highest point Pico de Esperança
 - elevation 1,053 m (3,455 ft)
 - coordinates 38°40′9″N 28°7′19″W / 38.66917°N 28.12194°W / 38.66917; -28.12194
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 31.85 km2 (12 sq mi)
 - water .02 km2 (0 sq mi)
 - urban .56 km2 (0 sq mi)
Population 532 (2011)
Density 17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Settlement c. 1570
LAU Junta Freguesia
 - location Estrada Regional
 - coordinates 38°40′10″N 28°3′30″W / 38.66944°N 28.05833°W / 38.66944; -28.05833
President Junta António G. Teixeira Sousa
Timezone Azores (UTC-1)
 - summer (DST) Azores (UTC0)
Postal Zone 9800-132
Area Code & Prefix (+351) 292 XXX-XXXX
Patron Saint Nossa Senhora das Neves
Wikimedia Commons: Norte Grande

Norte Grande is a civil parish in the municipality of Velas on the Portuguese island of São Jorge in the Azores; owing to the existence of an ecumenical faith community throughout its history, the parish has also taken on the name of its religious invocation (Nossa Senhora dos Neves, or Neves for short). The population in 2011 was 532,[1] in an area of 31.85 km².[2]

History

Church of Nossa Senhora das Neves, northern Velas, São Jorge.

The parish of Norte Grande is has been one of the largest populations on the island; by 1570, its importance along the north coast justified the construction of a road into the areas around Neves.

It was around the primitive parochial church of Norte Grande (the Church of Our Lady of the Snows), that the townsfolk encircled officials responsible for collecting the medieval tithes in 1694. This event was part of the Tarot rebellion, when tax collectors were sent to the island to collect a tithe for tarot cultivated. Indignant Calhetense gathered in Norte Grande, then encircled those officials in the church, who had taken refuge from the angry farmers, who refused to pay the excessive charge on a staple.

Geography

Norte Grande straddles the interior crest and northern coast of São Jorge, approximately the middle of the island. Apart from an interior that is covered in spatter cones, the parish is dotted by sea level debris fields called "fajãs". During the settlement period these became sites of colonization, since the northern coast is wall of cliffs, historically accessible by foot or pack-animal. There are few settlements in the relatively sparse interior, apart from the two primary fajãs (Fajã da Aeira and Fajã do Ouvidor), only two many settlements are observable: Outeiro da Cruz and Neves. Between these settlements and the southern border are plains of agricultural and forested land, in addition to many inactive volcanic cones.

Economy

The parish is home to a milk processing factory, used in the production of the island's epitimous Queijo de São Jorge, a protected denomination (DOP) of cheeses.

Culture

Norte Grande is the seat of the Sociedade Filarmónica Recreio Nortense, founded in 1931, one of the premier philharmonic bands on the island.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/28/2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.