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() is a Portuguese term of obscure origin used to describe supratidal talus at the foot of coastal cliffs, caused by landslides or lava flows.G. Lameiras et al. (2009), p.827 Although relatively common world-wide, they are distinctive features of the Azores and
Fajãs are created from collapsing cliffs or lava flows and are identifiable along the coast as "flat" surfaces, relative to other geological forms. Tides and tidal currents have only minor influence on coastal morphology, and therefore sedimentation and deposits there became permanent.
Composed of fertile soils, these microclimates allow the cultivation of a variety of
Madeira
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, as well as of the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands (; es, Canarias, ), also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, in Macaronesia. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are west of Morocc ...
, where the equivalent term in Canarian Spanish is (). The term also designates a small flat piece of land, generally cultivable and located by the sea, formed of materials fallen from cliffs.
Another Canarian word for lava is , literally, "low island".
Geology
Fajãs are created from collapsing cliffs or lava flows and are identifiable along the coast as "flat" surfaces, relative to other geological forms. Tides and tidal currents have only minor influence on coastal morphology, and therefore sedimentation and deposits there became permanent.
Composed of fertile soils, these microclimates allow the cultivation of a variety of staple
Staple may refer to:
*Staple food, a foodstuff that forms the basic constituent of a diet
*Staple (fastener), a small formed metal fastener
**Surgical staple
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Staple (band), a Christian post-hardcore band
** ''Stap ...
and exotic plants, such as coffee.
Azores
These debris fields exist throughout the archipelago of the Azores but are concentrated on the island of São Jorge. The island is volcanic, with cliffs that run down to the coast, and fajãs that extend into the sea as a result of these cliffs collapsing. The long fetch of the Azores is a high-energy wave climate, and the steep submarine slopes and absence of shallow shelves produce patterns ofwave shoaling
In fluid dynamics, wave shoaling is the effect by which surface waves, entering shallower water, change in wave height. It is caused by the fact that the group velocity, which is also the wave-energy transport velocity, changes with water depth ...
, refraction, and diffraction
Diffraction is defined as the interference or bending of waves around the corners of an obstacle or through an aperture into the region of geometrical shadow of the obstacle/aperture. The diffracting object or aperture effectively becomes a s ...
, especially during storms. This leads to fragmentation of the coast into several dynamic cells whose sediment alongshore is limited by impermeable boundaries.
There are fajãs on both sides of the island: along the southern coast are the notable fajãs of Velas, Vimes, Bodes, Além, São João, Cardoso, and Alabaçal, while in the north a succession of much smaller fajãs result from the collapse of land cut by small ravines.
*The fajãs of Caldeira do Santo Cristo have an underwater cave and an open lagoon
* The Fajã dos Cubres
The Fajã dos Cubres is a permanent debris field, known as a fajã, built from the collapsing cliffs on the northern coast of the civil parish of Ribeira Seca, in the municipality of Calheta, island of São Jorge, in the Portuguese archipelago o ...
, with a closed lagoon ecosystem and a crystalline lake
*The Fajã do Ouvidor
The Fajã do Ouvidor is a permanent lava field originated (we think) from Pico da Esperança when was active, and the most recent from the collapsing cliffs on the northern coast of the civil parish of Norte Grande, in the municipality of Velas, ...
is a dendritic
Dendrite derives from the Greek word "dendron" meaning ( "tree-like"), and may refer to:
Biology
*Dendrite, a branched projection of a neuron
*Dendrite (non-neuronal), branching projections of certain skin cells and immune cells
Physical
* Dendr ...
fajã extending into the sea, used by fishermen.
Although many of these fajãs have been abandoned, mills and fountains remain iconic outposts along hiking trails.
The fajãs are fertile and, historically used to cultivate yams, maize, and vegetables, although coffee, vineyards
A vineyard (; also ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards ...
, and tropical fruits were also grown there. Several fajãs are scattered along the northern and southern coasts, including the fajãs of Santo Cristo and Cubres, with their distinctive saltwater lagoons. One of the more unique harvests occurs at Fajã of Caldeira do Santo Cristo, where the lagoon supports cockles: this makes Santo Cristo a popular destination for the unique gastronomy of the Azores.
References
;Notes ;Sources * {{DEFAULTSORT:Fajas * Coastal and oceanic landforms Portuguese words and phrases