With a length of 19.8 kilometers and a maximum width of 14 kilometers, the 173.1 km2 Faial area presents a thick pentagonal shape. It is the third most inhabited island of the archipelago, with 14 994 residents (data of 2011). The island of Faial is part of the Central Group and is the westernmost point of the so-called “triangle islands”, together with São Jorge and the island of Pico, from which it is 6 km. The highest point of the island, at 1043 m altitude, is located at Cabeço Gordo, in the Caldeira area, at 38 ° 34’34 ” north latitude and 28 ° 42’47 ” west longitude.