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The GEOAÇORES Association – Azores Geopark Association, is a non-profit association, with headquarters in Horta, Faial island and established through a public deed on May 19th, 2010.

The Azores archipelago has rich and vast geodiversity and an important geological heritage composed by several sites of scientific, educational and touristic interests.

The Azores geosites represent elements of its geodiversity with an exceptional value and potential for many types of use.

Volcanoes, calderas, lakes, lava fields, fumaroles, hot springs and thermal waters, volcanic caves, "fajãs", fault scarps and marine fossil deposits, among others, are characteristic elements of the Azorean geological heritage.

Beyond this heritage, there are other values of reference in the archipelago, such as its rich biodiversity and the architectural, cultural, ethnographic and immaterial heritages of undeniable value.

The Azores Global Geopark is situated at the triple junction between the North American, Eurasian and African tectonic plates. Its geomorphology is therefore primarily shaped by volcanic and tectonic forces. There have been 26 volcanic eruptions since the early 15th century when the Portuguese first settled the islands, which number 16 major polygenetic volcanoes, most of them silicic while some feature summit caldera subsidence. Nine are still active. In addition there are over 1,700 monogenetic volcanic features dispersed either along the flanks, on the summits of the polygenetic volcanoes, or in some 11 basaltic fissure systems. Features here include domes, tuff rings and cones, maars, scoria and spatter cones. Whaling, which was once an important activity in the Azores, has also left a valuable cultural heritage.

Mission
The mission and goals of GEOAÇORES Association - Azores Geopark are:
 * To promote and carry out actions with the aim of an environmental, socioeconomic, cultural, sustainable and balanced development of the Azores Autonomous Region, namely through the management of the Azores Geopark;
 * To promote and carry out environmental awareness actions and cultural and tourism animation actions;
 * To carry out actions of protection, conservation and dissemination of the natural heritage, especially the Geological heritage;
 * To carry out the collection, processing and dissemination of information about the environmental resources of the territory;
 * To promote and carry out cooperation actions with other entities which may contribute to fulfill the aims of the Association;
 * To integrate public or private entities which embody the framework of the Azores Geopark;
 * To provide services to the Association members, local agents or others.