Capelinhos

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The Capelinhos (from Capelo + -inhos, literally little Capelos) is a volcano in the western part of the island of Faial in the Azores.

A volcanic eruption lasted for 127 days from September 16/27, 1957 and October 24, 1958. It enlarged the land by 2.4 km² and developed Ponta dos Capelinhos and caused 300 seismic activities. The eruption occurred about 1 km offshore from the old position of the Ponta dos Capelinhos.

Capelinhos Vulcano, Faial Island, Azores. The lighthouse marks the old position of the Ponta dos Capelinhos.
Capelinhos Vulcano, Faial Island, Azores. The lighthouse marks the old position of the Ponta dos Capelinhos.

Ash hurled 1 km and had enormous explosions and numerous earthquakes. 300 houses were destroyed in the parishes of Capelo and Praia do Norte and 2,000 were evacuated. Most of the people emigrated to the US (America) and the rest of North America. Capelinos is at the end of the row of volcanos and another Cabeço Gordo which belongs to the highest mountain on Faial. The landmark includes a lighthouse which lies near a cliff of the cape and is presently made up of volcanic soil.

[edit] Sources

Machado, F; Parsons, Willard H.; Richards, Adrian F.; Mulford, John W. (1962): Capelinhos Eruption of Fayal Volcano, Azores, 1957-1958. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 67, p.3519

Mitchell-Thorme, R.C.; (1981): Vulcanicity of Historic Times in the Middle Atlantic Islands: Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 44, p. 57-70.

Cole, P.; Duncan, A.; Guest, J; (1996): Capelinhos: The disappearing volcano. Geology Today 12 (2), 68-72.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 38°35′12″N, 28°42′51″W

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