Ribeira Grande - Definition and Overview

There is also Ribeira Grande in Cape Verde, see Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde

Ribeira Grande (Portuguese for large river) is a city on the southwest-central part of São Miguel Island in the Azores It has a population of 28,482 (as of 2001). The downtown population is around 5,300.

Ribeira Grande is located northeast of Ponta Delgada and is linked with a mountainous road connecting Ponta Delgada, the western part of the island and Furnas, Povoção and the eastern part of the island to the east and to the north especially areas that are away from the Atlantic Ocean. The mountains are to the east. Most of the mountains are covered with forests and are grassy in both lower and higher elevations. The rest of the land are made up of agricultural lands and some forests.

• Location:
  • Latitude: 37 N
  • Longitude: 25 W
• Altitude: 35 m (118 ft)

The tallest mountain is Pico da Barrosa (947 m). The highest temperatures can reach as high as 23.8°C.

Ribeira Grande has schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, banks, a post office, a small port and squares or plazas (praça).

The 14 parishes of Lagoa include:

• Calhetas
• Conceição (Ribeira Grande)
• Fenais da Ajuda
• Lomba da Maia
• Lomba de São Pedro
• Maia
• Matriz (Ribeira Grande)
• Pico da Pedra
• Porto Formoso
• Rabo de Peixe
• Ribeira Seca
• Ribeirinha
• Santa Bárbara
• São Brás