Geography
Flores is the second island that is part of the western group, together with Corvo, only 18km away, which is about 35 minutes by boat. Flores island is the second least populated island of the archipelago after Corvo, with about 3 800 people. It is 17km long and 12km wide for a total area of about 140m2.
Flores is also the westernmost point of Europe. The highest point of Flores is Morro Alto, at about 911m above sea level.
Economy
The first centuries after people arrived in Flores, the production of cereals was significant for the economy of the island, as well as sheep farming and fishing.
Whaling in Flores was also of great importance. In the 1930s, there was a brutal increase in annual whale catches, both locally and internationally. It went from 600 to 7,393 whales captured in 1937. That year, in Flores alone, 47 whales were caught. The heritage of whaling is still very present.
In 1972, the local airport opened and the harbors were getting in better conditions, making the integration of Flores easier towards the other islands of the archipelago, as well as towards the American and European continents.
Today, the sector of services is vital to Flores island, assuming about 60% of the employment. Tourism is getting stronger thanks to the natural beauty of the island.