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Ruben José de Castro Furtado, is a Portuguese-born, Canadian-raised, Dual-Citizen of Canada and Portugal.
Truthfully, I never grew-up interested in my cultural roots, but as I matured I became more and more interested in the history and culture of Portugal, and specifically the history of the Azores (where I was born, and spent a few years of my life). Returning to the islands in 2007, and five-years before that, I began to search-out information on the Azores, its shared history and pay attention to the culture, customs and music of the islands.
Wikipedia, and its ability to elaborate online on information, has allowed me to research more and contribute to the people's knowledge of the Azores and Portugal, that goes beyond simple information taken from general resources. I have been active in editing content from original Portuguese sources to English and content development on the history, geography and culture of the Azores. Although most articles in the Portuguese namespace have remained almost touristy, I have endeavoured to add research from bibliographic sources and populate the obscure articles on history and geography of the islands that are beyond voyeuristic interest, including the geomorphology and the illusive history of the communities.
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The civil parish of Cedros: an agricultural community and centre of the island of Faial , anchored by the Cooperativa Agrícola dos Lactícinios do Faial, one of the primary rural industries on the island, responsible for sales of milk, cheese and butter.
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The capital of the island of Faial, the city of Horta founded by Josse van Huerter in 1467; the economic centre of the Triangle group of islands, through the historic export of dyes, wine, citrus fruits and support of the whaling fleets of the 18th-20th century.
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Hidden along the coast of Ginetes in the municipality of Ponta Delgada the recently restored thermal spa of Ferreria was requalified to attract tourist visitors to the southwest civil parish on the island of São Miguel.
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The rectory building located in the University of the Azores; a 18th-19th century residence on the grounds of the university and surrounded by endemic and transplanted species of plants and trees on the island of São Miguel.
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The coastal breakwater of the old cove of Lajes do Pico, the regional capital of the centre group island of Pico. At one time this was the earliest access to the village and historical port, and today centre of sun- and sea-bathers.
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The airport at Horta was inaugurated on August 24, 1971 by then President Almirante Américo Thomaz. On July 5, 1985 TAP Air Portugal initiated direct flights between Horta and Lisbon: the first aircraft was a Boeing 737 named Ponta Delgada.
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Based in the traditional summer cottage atmosphere, the locality of São Lourenço (on the island of Santa Maria) extends from the coast to the sloping vineyards. Meanwhile along the Santa Bárbara coast, the islet of São Lourenço hosts a grotto with stalactite and stalagmites called the furna do Ilhéu do Romeiro.
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The quiet village and regional capital of Velas located across from the island of Faial (in the distance), was one of the historical ports on the island of São Jorge that brought in commerce and settlers, owing to its plain-like debris field, known as fajãs.
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