The westernmost point of Europe — waterfalls, calderas, and hydrangea-blue roads at the very edge of the Atlantic world
Flores is the westernmost island in the Azores and one of the two westernmost points in all of Europe (the other being neighbouring Corvo). Geologically younger and wetter than the central Azores islands, Flores is defined by dramatic waterfalls (Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau drops 100m in a single fall), blue hydrangea-lined roads, volcanic calderas containing crater lakes in multiple colours, and a lushness that makes Faial and Pico look dry by comparison. The island receives among the highest rainfall in the Azores, which produces the green intensity. The population has declined significantl…
Flores was discovered by Portuguese navigators around 1452 and settled from the late 15th century. The island's name (Flowers) was given for the abundance of wild flowers found there. The western Azores (Flores and Corvo) were always the most remote and least integrated into Atlantic trade routes — positioned far from the main triangle routes between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, they served primarily as emergency stopovers. The strategic value of Flores increased in World War II when Allied forces used the western Azores as mid-Atlantic waypoints. The post-war period saw significant emig…