The Graciosa Island, also known as ''White Island'', belongs to the Central Group of the Archipelago of the [[Azores]]. The island has an area of 60,84 km² in a oval form. It measures 10 km of length and 7 km width.
==The landscape==
The landscape of Graciosa (meaning ''Gracious'') mixes the green of the trees with the white of the villages and isolated houses. It possesss fertile fields that produce cereals, fruit and wine and bovine cattle.
The formerones of Graciosa is a rocky formation of great dimensions existing close to the Vila de Santa Cruz, with a configuration very similar to a whale.
Of volcanic origin, the Gracious Island has a very accented relief in the southern part, where the peak of the Cadeira has 402 meters. It has rare ''furmas'' of sulphur. This is pratically unique fenomenom in the whole world.
==Municipalities==
Graciosa has only one municipality, [[Santa Cruz da Graciosa]] with almost 4,780 inhabitants (2001 census).
==The discovery==
Graciosa Island was discovered in May, 2nd [[1450]] being its first settler from [[Montemor-o-Velho]]. His name was Vasco Gil Sodré. He came from [[Terceira Island]] and settled forever on Graciosa with his family.
==External links==
*[http://www.cm-graciosa.pt/ Câmara Municipal da Graciosa] ''(in Portuguese)''
