PORTUGAL - AZORES ( Região Autónoma dos Açores )

The Azores (Portuguese: Açores), officially the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores), is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal (along with Madeira). It is an archipelago composed of nine volcanic islands in the Macaronesia region of the North Atlantic Ocean, about 1,360 km (850 mi) west of continental Portugal, about 1,500 km (930 mi) west of Lisbon, in continental Portugal, about 1,500 km (930 mi) northwest of Morocco, and about 2,500 km (1,600 mi) southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. In 1976, the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores), one of the autonomous regions of Portugal, and the subdistricts of the Azores were eliminated. There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups. These are Flores and Corvo, to the west; Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the centre; and São Miguel, Santa Maria, and the Formigas Reef to the east. They extend for more than 600 km (370 mi) and lie in a northwest–southeast direction.

Its main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism, which is becoming the major service activity in the region. In addition, the government of the Azores employs a large percentage of the population directly or indirectly in the service and tertiary sectors. The main city of the Azores is Ponta Delgada. All the islands have volcanic origins, although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded activity since the islands were settled several centuries ago. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m (7,713 ft). If measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic, the Azores are among the tallest mountains on the planet.

The Azores has at least two endemic living bird species. The Azores bullfinch, or Priolo, is restricted to remnant laurisilva forest in the mountains at the eastern end of São Miguel and is classified by BirdLife International as endangered. Monteiro's storm-petrel, described to science as recently as 2008, is known to breed in just two locations in the islands, but may occur more widely. An extinct species of owl, the São Miguel scops owl, has also recently been described, which probably became extinct after human settlement due to habitat destruction and the introduction of alien species. Five species of flightless rail also once existed on the islands, as did another species of bullfinch, but these also went extinct after human colonization. 11 subspecies of bird are also endemic to the islands.  A flightless extinct quail is also known. The Azores also has an endemic bat, the Azores noctule, which is unusual in regularly feeding during the day. The islets of the Formigas (the Portuguese word for "ants"), including the area known as the Dollabarat Reef, have a rich environment of maritime species, such as black coral and manta rays, different species of sharks, whales, and sea turtles. On São Miguel there are notable micro-habitats formed by hot springs that host extremophile microorganisms. 17 new marine reserves (with special conservation status) were added to the Azorean Marine Park (which covers currently around 900.000 km² .

The first stamps used in the Azores were Portuguese stamps issued in 1853 depicting the effigy of Queen D. Maria II. Portugal was the 45th nation to adopt the use of postage stamp. In the Azores, then known as the Ilhas Adjacentes (Adjacent Islands), stamps were cancelled with circular postmark between 1853 and 1869 (referred to as the First Reform) that included numerals corresponding to the localities. The first stamps for the Azores appeared in 1868, and continued until 1930. Nearly all of the stamps issued in the Azores were Portuguese stamps overprinted with "AÇORES". The exceptions were the 1898 Vasco da Gama commemorative issue, the 1906 King Carlos issue, and the 1910 King Manuel issue (including revolutionary overprints on the Manuel issue). After 1930, Portuguese stamps were used in the Azores. Between 1892 and 1906, the three administrative districts of the Azores had stamps issued inscribed with their names: Angra, Horta and Ponta Delgada. On 2 January 1980, the use of separate stamps for the Azores (and Madeira) were revived. The modern stamps are inscribed both "PORTUGAL" and "AÇORES". Personalized and regional stamps began to be emitted from 2008 by the Portuguese postal service. These stamps have no special purpose beyond the expression of local pride; all are sold and valid in Portugal. About 5-10 are issued each year, generally with themes relating to the Azores.

 

The letter sent on June 10,2015 and received on June 26,2015. The right side four stamps are not valid now because they are in old currencies. Still we can get postmarked if we affix enough stamps along with them in current currency- Euro. Many years back Azores had issued stamps independently, later they stopped.