The Azores islands are an archipelago of volcanic peaks rising out of the ocean along the mid-Atlantic ridge. The 9 islands are covered in dark volcanic rock and lush green vegetation. The landscapes are broken up by steep cliff faces, cascades and lake-filled craters. A nice way to appreciate the Azorean islands is from the viewpoint of the ocean. Below are just a few examples of the largest island of the Azores (São Miguel island) as seen from the sea.
Short-finned pilot whales are the second largest species of dolphin (Yes, despite the name they are classified as dolphins). As with other dolphins, pilot whales have strong social bonds. They form matrilineal societies and are well-known for their long-term stability. Pilot whales are also just really cool to watch. When they are at the surface between deep feeding dives they usually cluster at the surface and often lie very still in a behaviour termed "logging". They are simply beautiful animals.
