View source for Corvo Island

{{Short description|Smallest island of the Azores, Portugal}}
{{About|the island|the municipality|Vila do Corvo}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox islands
| name               = Corvo Island
| native_name        = Ilha do Corvo
| native_name_link   = 
| native_name_lang   = pt
| sobriquet          = 
| image_name         = Azoren Corvo.jpg
| image_caption      = The island of Corvo as seen from the Corvo-Flores Channel
| image_alt          = 
| image_map          = Corvo-pos.png
| map_alt            = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Location in the Azores
| coordinates        = {{coord|39|41|51|N|31|06|19|W|display=it}}
| etymology          = 
| location           = [[Atlantic Ocean]]
| archipelago        = 
| area_km2           = 17.12
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="siaram">{{cite web |title=Ilha do Corvo |url=http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/geografia/corvo/intro.html |website=siaram.azores.gov.pt |access-date=13 June 2021 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125233412/http://siaram.azores.gov.pt/geografia/corvo/intro.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| rank               = 
| coastline_km       = 21.49
| coastline_footnotes = <ref name="siaram" />
| elevation_m        = 720
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="siaram" />
| highest_mount      = [[Estreitinho]]
| country            = {{POR}}
| country_admin_divisions_title = Region
| country_admin_divisions = [[Azores]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1 = 
| country_admin_divisions_1 = 
| demonym            = Corvino; Corvense
| population         = {{increase}} 435
| population_as_of   = 2023
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Ine 2023|url=https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&contecto=pi&indOcorrCod=0000256&selTab=tab0 }}</ref>
| population_rank    = 
| population_rank_max = 
| density_km2        = 
| density_rank       = 
| density_footnotes  = 
| languages          = [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
| ethnic_groups      = [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]]
| timezone1          = [[UTC−01:00]]
| utc_offset1        = 
| timezone1_DST      = 
| utc_offset1_DST    = 
}}

'''Corvo Island''' ({{langx|pt|Ilha do Corvo}}, {{IPA|pt|ˈiʎɐ ðu ˈkoɾvu|pron}}, {{lit|Island of the Crow}}) is the smallest and the northernmost island of the [[Azores]] [[archipelago]] and the northernmost in [[Macaronesia]]. It has a population of 435 inhabitants (as of 2023)<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=População residente (N.º) por Local de residência (NUTS - 2013), Sexo e Grupo etário (Por ciclos de vida); Anual |url=https://www.ine.pt/xportal/xmain?xpid=INE&xpgid=ine_indicadores&indOcorrCod=0008272&contexto=bd&selTab=tab2}}</ref> making it the smallest single [[Vila do Corvo|municipality in the Azores]] and in [[Portugal]]. The island lies on the [[North American Plate]].

==History==
{{Main|Vila do Corvo}}

The documented history of the Azores originates with non-official exploration during the period of the late 13th century, resulting in maps, such as the [[Genoa|Genovese]] [[Medici-Laurentian Atlas|Atlas Medici]] from 1351, which mentions obscure islands in an undefined [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] [[archipelago]]. The Medici Atlas refers to an ''Insula Corvi Marini'' (''Island of the Marine Crow''; "marine crow" is the literal translation of ''Corvo Marinho'', which is the Portuguese name for the [[cormorant]]), in a seven-island archipelago, but it is improbable that it refers specifically to Corvo, although the island's name could have originated from this atlas. It is likely that the name referred to the two islands of Corvo and [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores]], which also appeared on the later Aragonese ''Mapa Catalão'' of 1375.

The navigator [[Diogo de Teive]] discovered both islands of the Azores' Western Group on his 1452 return from the Banks of [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]] following his second voyage of exploration. The Portuguese royal chronicles state that when Teive arrived, he found a [[Statue of Corvo|statue of a man on horseback]], standing on a plinth bearing an inscription in an alphabet they did not understand. An attempt was subsequently made to remove the statue to Portugal, which led to its destruction. This account, alongside a [[Carthaginian coins of Corvo|hoard of coins]] which contemporary documents state were unearthed on the island in 1749, has led to speculation that the island was discovered by the [[Punic people|Carthaginians]] c. 200 BC.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Through the Pillars of Herakles : Greco-Roman Exploration of the Atlantic |last=W. Roller, Duane |date=2013 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |isbn=9781134192335 |oclc=826855488}}</ref>

Subsequently, the Portuguese Court, when referring to the new ''Ilhas das Flores'' (''Islands of Flowers''), began to identify Corvo as ''Ilha de Santa Iria'' (''Island of Saint [[Irene of Tomar|Irene]]''), but other nautical charts continued to refer to this island as ''Ilhéu das Flores'' (''Islet of Flowers''), ''Ilha da Estátua'' (''Island of the Statue''), ''Ilha do Farol'' (''Island of the Lighthouse'') or ''Ilha de São Tomás'' (''Island of Saint Thomas''). For a while it was also known as ''Ilha do Marco'' (Island of the Mark), which was attributed to its reference as a geographic marker for sailors, or, likely, the location of a small promontory where a marker was placed, which received the name ''Ponta do Marco''.

Unsuccessful attempts at settlement of the island occurred in the following years; not until 1580 did a permanent settlement become viable.

A religious parish of Corvo was finally constituted in 1674, and then on 20 June 1832, integrated into a functioning civilian administration.

==Geology and geography==
[[File:Chegada à ilha do Corvo Açores 3, Arquivo de Villa Maria, ilha Terceira, Açores.JPG|thumb|235px|left|The perspective from the island of Flores]]
[[File:Ilha do Corvo Açores, paisagens, 2, Arquivo de Villa Maria, ilha Terceira, Açores.JPG|thumb|235px|left|The view of the pasturelands of Zimbral]]
The island is located on the [[North American Plate]], west of the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]] on a sea-mount of approximately 1.5-1.0 million years age. The islands of Corvo and Flores emerged from a submarine mount oriented along a north-northeast to south-southwest line, while Corvo is controlled by faults oriented north to south, parallel to the mid-Atlantic Ridge, and transform faults oriented west to east which crosscut secondary cones on the outer slopes. The island formed from a 5&nbsp;km diameter central volcano (Monte Gorde) that emerged around 730,000 years ago, whose central cone was approximately {{cvt|1000|meters|ft}} in altitude. The crater collapsed 430,000 years ago during a [[Plinian eruption]], forming a subsidence caldera ({{cvt|2000|m|sigfig=1}} in diameter and {{cvt|300|m|sigfig=1}} depth), referred to as the ''Caldeirão''. Within the caldera are several cinder and spatter cones ({{cvt|20|-|30|m|abbr=on|round=5}} in height) giving rise to small lakes, peat bogs, and islets (two long and five rounded). The highest point on the island, the [[Morro dos Homens]], crowns the southern rim of the Caldeirão at {{cvt|718|m}} above sea level.

Two main volcanic complexes are usually recognized:
*The Basal Complex &ndash; the oldest formative structures, that includes pyroclastic submarine tuff cones, around the southwest and northern sea cliffs. In some areas, specifically along the western, northern and north-east, the island is cut by faults extending from the Upper Complexes;
*The Upper Complex (Complex Superior 1 and 2) &ndash; divided into two volcanic units of pre- and post-caldera episodes; the Complex 1 (or pre-caldera) is represented by [[subaerial|sub-aerial]] volcanism, characterized by both explosive and effusive volcanism. This phase is characterized by a succession of basaltic lavas in the base, and developing into mixture of basaltic and Hawaiian lavas in later phases. The secondary (Complex 2) formations occupy 90% of the island, and pertain to the central caldera, including pumice and explosive particulars that are a mixture of escoria lava of a basaltic and Hawaiian in nature. The most recent of the deposits correspond to pyroclastic and [[Phreatomagmatic eruption|phreatomagmatic]] pyroclastic material associated with secondary cones.

While the initial phases were dominated by basaltic lava flows and pyroclastic deposits, the final phase was characterized by pumice, surges, lahars, and pyroclastic flows characteristic of [[Plinian]] and sub-Plinian eruptions.

Sheer cliffs dominate the coastal areas, the exception being along the southern margin which is composed of ancient lava flows. The western cliffs, with an almost vertical slope rises {{cvt|700|m}} above sea level; one of the major coastal elevations in the Atlantic. Remnants of the ancient volcano are partially preserved in the southern and eastern flanks of the island (which retain altitudes between {{cvt|500|and|700|m}} above sea level). In addition to marine erosion, the island is constantly eroded by strong northeast and western winds. In the south, secondary cinder cones, such as Coroinha, Morro da Fonte, Grotão da Castelhana and Coroa do Pico, are visibly preserved with little erosion, and responsible for many basaltic flows that formed the southern lava fajã ({{cvt|10|-|60|m|sigfig=1}} above sea level). The last eruption took place about 80–100,000 years ago in the vicinity of Vila Nova do Corvo.

In the extreme northeast, along the Ponta Torrais there are two small islets, Ilhéu dos Torrais and the Ilhéu do Torrão, in addition to several submarine reefs, that are dangerous to navigation. At the end of October 2012, following several days of excess rainfall, a [[volcanic landslide|landslide]] occurred that dislodged geological debris along the northwestern corner of the island, resulting in the formation of small islets, that progressively transformed into a peninsula and, finally a [[fajã]].<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.acorianooriental.pt/noticia/parque-natural-monitoriza-nascimento-de-nova-faja-no-corvo |title=Parque Natural monitoriza "nascimento" de nova fajã no Corvo |location=Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal |language=pt |first=Ana Carvalho |last=Melo |publisher=Açoreano Oriental |date=4 December 2012 |access-date=5 December 2012 |archive-date=21 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621001526/http://www.acorianooriental.pt/noticia/parque-natural-monitoriza-nascimento-de-nova-faja-no-corvo |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Caldeirão do Corvo Azores.jpg|center|800px|thumb|A panorama of the Caldeirão, the remnants of the last Plinian eruption on the island of Corvo, as seen from the crater rim around Malaguetas]]

==Environment==
[[File:The Corvo island collection LII (49115288616).jpg|thumb|right|Corvo's ''[[caldera|caldeira]]'', a protected area]]
[[File:Cory's shearwater (Calonectris borealis) looking for fish, Corvo Island, Azores, Portugal (PPL1-Corrected) julesvernex2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Cory's shearwater]] looking for fish near the island]]

===Ecoregions/Protected areas===
The Corvo Nature Park was created under Regional Legislative Decree 44/2008/A, on 5 November 2008, in order to conserve and protect species habitat and natural resources on the island. It includes principally two categories, and associated areas of intervention:
;Protected Areas for the Management of Habitats and Coastal Species
*[COR01] Protected Area of the Caldera of Corvo ({{langx|pt|Área Protegida para a Gestão de Habitats ou Espécies da Costa e Caldeirão do Corvo}}) 
;Protected Areas for the Management of Resources
*[COR02] Protected Resource Area of the Coast of Corvo ({{langx|pt|Área Protegida para a Gestão de Recursos da Costa do Corvo}})

===Important Bird Area===
The islands of Corvo and neighbouring [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores]], along with the surrounding waters, form the 210,400&nbsp;ha Corvo and Flores [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA), designated as such by [[BirdLife International]] because it provides feeding and breeding sites for populations of [[Cory's shearwater|Cory's]], [[little shearwater|little]] and [[Manx shearwater]]s, as well as [[roseate tern|roseate]] and [[common tern]]s, and, possibly, [[Madeiran storm petrel]]s.<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url=http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/corvo-e-flores-iba-portugal |title=Corvo and Flores |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2020 |website=BirdLife Data Zone |publisher=BirdLife International |access-date=11 December 2020 |archive-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623181034/http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/corvo-e-flores-iba-portugal |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Climate==
According to [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]], Corvo has a [[humid subtropical climate]]. As is the case with other western Azorean islands, the climate is very humid and mild to warm year-round due the effects of the [[Gulf Stream]], with around {{cvt|1100|mm|1|abbr=on}} of precipitation annually near the coast and reaching {{cvt|2400|mm|1|abbr=on}} at the highest altitudes, comfortable although generally windy. Average temperatures are around {{cvt|17.5|°C|0}} in Vila do Corvo, varying between {{cvt|14|°C|0}} in the winter to {{cvt|22|°C|0}} in the summer. Fog is common and almost permanent at higher elevations (and is referred to as the ''Fogs of São João''). Due to maritime agitation, particularly on the western coast, there is elevated [[Abrasion (geology)|abrasion]] along the coast. Relative humidity is around 80% year-round.
{{Weather box
|location = [[Corvo Airport]], 1961-1981, altitude: {{cvt|18|m|abbr=on}}
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|temperature colour=

|Jan record high C = 19.9
|Feb record high C = 19.5
|Mar record high C = 20.3
|Apr record high C = 21.0
|May record high C = 23.8
|Jun record high C = 25.9
|Jul record high C = 28.2
|Aug record high C = 28.9
|Sep record high C = 28.4
|Oct record high C = 26.5
|Nov record high C = 22.6
|Dec record high C = 21.8
|year record high C =

|Jan high C = 16.2
|Feb high C = 15.8
|Mar high C = 16.3
|Apr high C = 17.2
|May high C = 18.8
|Jun high C = 21.0
|Jul high C = 23.8
|Aug high C = 25.2
|Sep high C = 23.9
|Oct high C = 21.2
|Nov high C = 18.7
|Dec high C = 17.2
|year high C =

|Jan mean C = 14.2
|Feb mean C = 13.8
|Mar mean C = 14.2
|Apr mean C = 15.1
|May mean C = 16.6
|Jun mean C = 18.8
|Jul mean C = 21.4
|Aug mean C = 22.6
|Sep mean C = 21.5
|Oct mean C = 19.0
|Nov mean C = 17.0
|Dec mean C = 15.4

|Jan low C = 12.3
|Feb low C = 11.7
|Mar low C = 12.2
|Apr low C = 13.0
|May low C = 14.4
|Jun low C = 16.6
|Jul low C = 18.9
|Aug low C = 20.1
|Sep low C = 19.1
|Oct low C = 16.9
|Nov low C = 15.2
|Dec low C = 13.6
|year low C =

|Jan record low C = 5.3
|Feb record low C = 4.5
|Mar record low C = 5.7
|Apr record low C = 7.5
|May record low C = 9.0
|Jun record low C = 11.4
|Jul record low C = 14.7
|Aug record low C = 12.5
|Sep record low C = 13.0
|Oct record low C = 10.5
|Nov record low C = 8.0
|Dec record low C = 4.5
|year record low C =

|rain colour=green
|Jan rain mm = 144.0
|Feb rain mm = 119.9
|Mar rain mm = 99.7
|Apr rain mm = 76.5
|May rain mm = 62.5
|Jun rain mm = 49.9
|Jul rain mm = 55.9
|Aug rain mm = 67.4
|Sep rain mm = 96.6
|Oct rain mm = 110.2
|Nov rain mm = 131.6
|Dec rain mm = 130.4
|year rain mm =

|Jan humidity = 80
|Feb humidity = 81
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 82
|May humidity = 81
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 80
|Aug humidity = 79
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 80
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 81
|year humidity =

|Jan sun = 78.6
|Feb sun = 86.0
|Mar sun = 112.5
|Apr sun = 137.3
|May sun = 168.4
|Jun sun = 161.6
|Jul sun = 217.3
|Aug sun = 231.1
|Sep sun = 168.2
|Oct sun = 124.0
|Nov sun = 88.7
|Dec sun = 66.9
|year sun =

|Jan percentsun= 26
|Feb percentsun= 29
|Mar percentsun= 31
|Apr percentsun= 35
|May percentsun= 38
|Jun percentsun= 36
|Jul percentsun= 48
|Aug percentsun= 55
|Sep percentsun= 45
|Oct percentsun= 36
|Nov percentsun= 30
|Dec percentsun= 23
|year percentsun=

|source 1 = [[Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera|Instituto de Meteorologia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Plano de gestão de recursos hídricos da ilha do corvo |url=https://servicos-sraa.azores.gov.pt/grastore/DRA/PGRH/PGRH-A_RT_cap2_vol9_corvo.pdf |publisher=sraa.azores.gov.pt |access-date=21 June 2021 |page=29 |archive-date=24 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624204411/https://servicos-sraa.azores.gov.pt/grastore/DRA/PGRH/PGRH-A_RT_cap2_vol9_corvo.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Atlas Climático Ibérico |url=http://www.ipma.pt/export/sites/ipma/bin/docs/publicacoes/atlas.clima.ilhas.iberico.2011.pdf |publisher=[[IPMA]], [[AEMET]] |access-date=6 December 2020 |archive-date=3 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503073452/https://www.ipma.pt/export/sites/ipma/bin/docs/publicacoes/atlas.clima.ilhas.iberico.2011.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==Human settlement==
{{Main|Vila do Corvo}}
There is one urban center on the island: Vila do Corvo. Principally, it is a collection of many residential homes, interspersed with commercial businesses located on the southern one-third of the island. Functionally, by law, Vila do Corvo is the only Portuguese top-level municipality without a civil parish. The urbanized area is divided between the village, the airport, and the island's ports (being the primary links to the other islands in the archipelago). The lands immediately around the settlement are small zones along the eastern coast (Quintas and Fojo) that can sustain cultivation of some crops and fruit trees, and where some older trees have survived settlement; the best pasture-lands are located in the north in the zone of Terras Altas.
[[File:Vila do Corvo Azores.jpg|thumb|center|800px|Vila do Corvo, the only settlement on the island, as seen from Portal, looking towards [[Flores Island (Azores)|Flores Island]].]]

The southern coast, referred to as Enseada de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, is the location of three ports, constructed at various times for diverse needs: Porto Novo (currently not utilized), the Porto do Boqueirão and Porto da Casa (the largest and the island's commercial port). Portinho da Areia, on the extreme west of the southern coast (at the end of the airport's runway) is the only beach and principal swimming area on the island.

===Economy===
Subsistence agriculture has predominated on the island since it was first settled. It currently occupies 17.5% of the area of the municipality, and concentrated on small parcels in the eastern half of the island and along the northern parts of [[Vila do Corvo]]. In this patchwork of volcanic hedge-rows, farmers concentrate on semi-permanent crops (potatoes, some cereals, including wheat and citrus orchards).

Dairy production is the primary activity, and cheese is one of the primary commercialized products, although the raising of pigs and poultry is also common. Until the 1960s, the raising of sheep and the commercialization of wool was also important on the island. This was until a change in forestry policy forced many farmers to vacate uncultivated lands, lands that were routinely used to graze sheep. It was quickly the end of the wool industry on the island, an industry that had been integral to the island's small export industry.

===Transport===
The island is served by the [[Corvo Airport]] {{airport codes|CVU|LPCR}}, located on the southern margin of the island between the village and southern ocean ports. Inter-island flights are handled by [[SATA Air Açores]]: there are no direct flights to Corvo from outside the archipelago. Since the 1990s, the airport has been serviced by one [[Bombardier Dash 8]] Q200 aircraft, big enough to handle the low volume of traffic to the island (weather permitting). These flights have since been operated by alternating{{clarify|date=April 2023}} DeHavilland Dash 8 aircraft, as part of the fleet revitalization program of the late 20th century.

==See also==
{{Portal|Geography}}
*[[List of volcanoes in Azores]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
*{{Cite thesis |degree=Masters |title=Geologia e tectónica da ilha do Corvo (Açores-Portugal): Contributos para o ordenamento do espaço físico |trans-title=Tectonics and geologia on the island of Corvo (Azores Portugal): Contributions to territorial planning of physical space |last=Dias |first=J. |year=2001 |publisher=Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra}}
*{{Cite journal |last=França |first=Z.T. |author2=Lago, M. |author3=Nunes, J.C. |author4=Galé, C. |author5=Forjaz, V.H. |author6=Pueyo, O. |author7=E. Arranz |journal=Proceedings da 3ª Assembleia Luso-Espanhola de Geodesia e Geofisica |volume=II |pages=727–730 |publisher=Univ. Politécnica de Valencia |year=2003 |title=Estudo preliminar do vulcanismo da Ilha do Corvo, Açores}}
*{{cite journal |last1=França |first1=Z.T. |year=2006 |title=Geochemistry of Alkaline Basalts of Corvo Island (Azores, Portugal): Preliminary Data |journal=Geogaceta |volume=40 |pages=87–90 |url=http://www.sociedadgeologica.es/archivos/geogacetas/Geo40/Geo40-22.pdf |access-date=21 April 2010 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185712/http://www.sociedadgeologica.es/archivos/geogacetas/Geo40/Geo40-22.pdf |url-status=dead }}
*{{cite journal |last1=Silva |first1=R. |author2=Wallenstein, N. |author3=R. Coutinho |title=Proposta de plano de Ordenamento da orla costeira da ilha do Corvo – Geologia 1ª fase – Caracterização e diagnóstico |journal=Documento Técnico-Científico do Centro de Vulcanologia |publisher=Centro de Vulcanologia e Riscos Geológicos |volume=42 |pages=27}}
*{{Cite map |editor=Chris Johns |title=Reservas da Biosfera dos Açores |trans-title=Biosphere Reserves of the Azores |publisher=National Geographic Portugal |location=Lisbon, Azores |date=December 2009 |edition=2009 |language=pt}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Corvo}}
*[http://cm-corvo.pt Official site] {{in lang|pt}}
*[https://theazoresislands.blogspot.com/search/label/Corvo%20Island The Azores Islands], Site with abundant information about Corvo Island
*{{cite gvp |name=Corvo |vn=382002 |access-date=29 June 2021}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140714231226/http://www.naterranaonalua.com/ It's the Earth Not the Moon], a film by Gonçalo Tocha (2012) set on Corvo
*[http://vimeo.com/37422019 North Atlantic], a short film by Bernardo Nascimento (2010) set at Corvo Airport's control tower.
*[https://www.youtube.com/c/corvont CORVO&NT]

{{Azores Islands}}
{{Municipalities in the Azores}}
{{Outlying territories of European countries}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Corvo Island|Corvo Island]]
[[Category:Mountains of Portugal]]
[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Portugal]]
[[Category:Calderas of Portugal]]
[[Category:Islands of the Azores]]
[[Category:Biosphere reserves of Portugal]]
[[Category:Birdwatching sites in Portugal]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Portugal]]
[[Category:Islands of the North American Azores]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of the Azores|Corvo]]