An elongated island with a length of 56 km and a maximun width of only 8 km, São Jorge has an area of 246.25 km2. Created by sucessive volcanic erruptions in a straight line, of which craters remain, its central platform has an average altitude of 700 metres. The coast is steep, almost vertical, particularly in the north, although the cliffs are interrupted by small coastal flat areas: the fajãs. It is situated at 28º 33' West longitude and at 38º 24' North latitude.