The nine Azores rise along 360 miles of continental rifts, giving each island its own geothermal character. That rich, black lava stone is everywhere, showing up on villas, hotels and churches.

And there’s a lot in the Azores worth protecting. The islands are located in the North Atlantic, 2,390 miles (3,850 km) east of Boston and 870 miles (1,400 km) west of Lisbon.