Though it is commonly said that the archipelago is named after the goshawk (Açor in Portuguese), because it was supposed to be a common bird at the time of the discovery, the bird actually never existed on the islands. Some historians indicate the archaic Portuguese word "azures" (the plural of blue) because of the color of the islands when seen from afar. Most, however, insist that the name is derived from birds, pointing to a local subspecies of the buzzard (Buteo buteo), as the animal the first explorers erroneously identified as goshawks.

History

In 1427, one of the captains sailing for Henry the Navigator discovered the Azores, possibly Gonçalo Velho, but this is not certain. The colonization of the then-unoccupied islands started in 1439 with people mainly from the continental provinces of Algarve and Alentejo; in the following centuries settlers from other European countries arrived, most notably from Northern France and Flanders. In 1583, Philip II of Spain as king of Portugal, sent his combined Iberian fleet to clear the French traders from the Azores, decisively hanging his prisoners-of-war from the yardarms and contributing to the "Black Legend". The Azores were the second-to-last part of the Portuguese empire to resist Philip's reign over Portugal (Macau being the last), Azores was returned to Portuguese control with the end of the Iberian Union, not by the military efforts, as these were already in Restoration War efforts in the mainland, but by the people attacking a well-fortified Castillian guarnition. There is also evidence that a significant number of seafarers from India, working for Portuguese merchant ships also settled in the Azores.

The 1820 civil war, in Portugal, had strong repercussion in the Azores. In 1829, in Vila da Praia, the liberals won over the absolutists, making Terceira Island the main headquarters of the new Portuguese regime and also where the Council of Regency (Conselho de Regência) of Mary II of Portugal was established.

Beginning in 1868, Portugal issued its stamps overprinted with "AÇORES" for use in the islands. Between 1892 and 1906, it also issued separate stamps for the three administrative districts of the time.

From 1836 to 1976, the archipelago was divided into three districts, quite equivalent (except in area) to those in the Portuguese mainland. The division was arbitrary, and didn’t follow the natural island groups, rather reflecting the location of each district capital on the three main cities (neither of each on the western group).

Angra consisted of Terceira, São Jorge, and Graciosa, with the capital at Angra do Heroísmo on Terceira.

Horta consisted of Pico, Faial, Flores, and Corvo, with the capital at Horta on Faial.

Ponta Delgada consisted of São Miguel and Santa Maria, with the capital at Ponta Delgada on São Miguel.

During the Second World War, in 1943, the Portuguese dictator Salazar leased bases in the Azores to the British. This represented a change in policy; previously the Portuguese government only allowed German U-boats and navy ships to refuel there. [1]

During 1944 Americans forces constructed a small air base on the Island of Santa Maria, this base was short lived and eventually a better location was secured on a different Island. In 1945 this new base was founded on the Island of Terciera and is currently known as Field Air Force Base. It was founded in an area called Lagens Field, a broad flat sea terrace that had been home to the fields of local farmer, it is a broad plateau like area rising out of the sea on the northeast area of the island. This Air force base is a joint American and Portuguese venture. It has provided critical support as a home base for anti-submarine P3s during the cold-war, as a rest and refuel site during it's entire life, including during the Gulf War, and as a continued stop over for American Military aircraft crossing the Atlantic.

In 1976 the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores), one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, and the Azorean districts were suppressed.

Politics
Since becoming a Portuguese Autonomous Region, the executive section of the local authority has been located in Ponta Delgada, the legislative in Horta and the judicial in Angra do Heroísmo. The President of the Regional Government is Carlos César.

Azorean politics are dominated by the two largest Portuguese political parties - PSD and PS, the latter holding a majority in the Regional Legislative Assembly. The CDS-PP is also represented in the local parliament, in coalition with the PSD. Even though the PS dominates the administrative scene, the PSD is usually more popular in city and town council elections.

Current Affairs
In 2003 the Azores saw international attention when U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and then Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and then Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Durão Barroso - nowadays President of the European Commission - held a summit there in the days before the commencement of the Iraq War.

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'Let's go swimming with the Dolphins' my husband said. He had found a company on the internet that organised it. So off we set to the Azores, it was to be our last big family holiday. I set an intention that the holiday would bring the family closer together and improve communication between us. I also had made up my mind to make a Dolphin Essence; I did not at that stage know how I was to achieve it but trusted I would know when the time came. Pico was the Azorean island that we stayed upon. Stewart one of the holiday guides had said 'you have to get out of your comfort zone to grow as a being', well swimming in the Atlantic 1-2miles off shore with thousands of feet of water below you was certainly getting out of my comfort zone! The sea was not cold, surprisingly warm considering how far out we were. The water was bright blue when you were in it. The sunlight reflected back from the depths in incredible white shafts of light. I eventually felt at home and did not want to get out. 

The sea was an experience in itself, the Dolphin encounters were something else. The clicks of the Dolphins could be clearly heard in the water; often you could hear them before you saw them. When we were on board the boat the communications between the Dolphins could be heard. On first seeing the Dolphin I could feel my heart chakra open, so much love poured out of me. Each time we went out and saw them the same thing happened. It was as if they were a catalyst to the core of emotion .I even woke in the night surrounded by love. The people in the group, my husband and I included began to have vivid dreams even after the first Dolphin encounter, something at a deep level was changing. The people on the trip all began to have shining eyes and smiles were firmly fixed on all faces. We saw and swam with five types of Dolphin, saw sperm whale and my husband and eldest daughter had an encounter with a blue whale. 

The encounters brought real excitement, delight and joy to us. We were at times surrounded by huge pods of Dolphins. I had an experience where I was in the water holding the hand of one of the guides [while I got my courage up!] and five common dolphin circled15 feet below us, they stayed for ages, we watching them and they were watching us. The Dolphins displayed curiosity, abandoned joy, grace and ease of being. The mothers guided their curious offspring who wanted to be in the front of the boat, the mothers would steer them away. The pods spent time socialising .Groups of five or more would jump in perfect synchronicity out of the water. Others would jump so they could see what was going on. We recorded an incident where one Dolphin jumped five times out into the air. They know how to have unlimited fun! The day the essence was made was an extremely powerful day. I was directed to put a glass of water on the front of the boat when we left harbour and there it stayed until we returned. So we are all back home to the humdrum of life. I can definitely say we have all changed. My intention that the holiday would bring us closer together has certainly worked and communication and ease of being with one another has improved without a shadow of a doubt .I think we are all happier in ourselves and we have grown as people. To be able to re-experience the energy we just have to relive our encounters, watch our recordings or take the essence.

For families that are split by emotions and circumstance who need to unite, bond and socialise. For people who find it difficult, or do not know how to socialise, bond and belong. For people who have lost or did not know how to have joy and fun in their lives, perhaps believing they did not deserve it or felt guilty. For mothers who need help to guide and protect their children, improve or awaken the mothering instinct. For healthy curiosity and inquisitiveness. For people who are wound up, worried and stressed and need to be more easy going.

This essence was made on the 28.8.06, on a boat on the Atlantic Ocean off the island of Pico in the Azores. It is a combination of energies from, striped, spotted but mainly bottle-nosed dolphins. We as a group of people swam with the wild bottle-nosed dolphins and after that once we were back on board the whole pod of about 100 dolphins surrounded the boat. The dolphins then proceeded to play, jump, do somersaults, ride the bow wave, come and look at us, especially the young who were then escorted away by their mothers. This continued for about an hour. It was a great privilege to have so much of their time and attention and it was very special. We all felt afterwards the incredible magical energy of the dolphins; it was as if we had been attuned to their energy. We felt very high! By the time we reached the harbour the essence had been made. 

About the Author

Robina Hearle is a flower essence therapist and producer. Her range of essences can be seen at www.rosecottagefloweressences.co.uk
See www.dolphinconnectionexperience.com for dolphin holidays