80% of the island is high pasture which supports 20,000 dairy cattle producing high quality milk from which comes the famous Sao Jorge cheese, still manufactured using traditional techniques and the original recipe.
The craggy coastline plunges almost vertically (400 m in parts) into the ocean with unique, frequent, small fertile flat areas (fajas) at the base of the cliffs. The central platform runs at an average height of 700m, rising to 1053 m at the highest point. 16 km across the water is Pico (accessible in one hour by boat) where a 2,351 m volcano dominates the skyline and seems but a stone’s throw away.
Festivals on Sao Jorge
- Espirito Santo (Holy Ghost Festival)
Held Seven Weeks after Easter 2009
- Cultural week (Velas)
Folk music performances, sporting events and regional gastronomy.
Held in the first week of July 2009
- July Festival (Calheta)
Held in the last week of July
