Lajes do Pico

The first settlement to be established on the southern part of the island of along Penedo Negro, in the cove of Castelete (south of the actual town of Lajes) sometime around 1460. The rough seas at the time only allowed the navigator Fernando Álvares Evangelho to offload at the time, and he and his dog would occupy the land near the ravine (along the western edge of the town) for many years: the ravine of potable water took its name Ribeira Fernado Álvares from this early colonist. On 15 September 1980, by decree of the regional assembly of the Azores (24/80/A), the civil parish of Ribeirinha was de-annexed from the territory of Piedade to form its own autonomous parish. ==Geography==

The six civil parishes form the municipality of Lajes do Pico, with their own local authority, including: • Calheta de Nesquim • Lajes do Pico • Piedade • Ribeiras • Ribeirinha • São João ==References==