Editing Geography of Portugal (section)

===Archipelagos===

In addition to continental Europe, Portugal consists of two Autonomous Regions in the Atlantic Ocean, consisting of the archipelagos of [[Madeira]] and [[Azores]]. Madeira is located on the African Tectonic Plate, and comprises the main island of Madeira, Porto Santo and the smaller Savage Islands. The Azores, which are located between the junction of the African, European and North American Plates, straddle the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]]. There are nine islands in this archipelago, usually divided into three groups (Western, Central and Eastern) and several smaller Formigas (rock outcroppings) located between São Miguel and Santa Maria Islands. Both island groups are [[Volcano|volcanic]] in nature, with historic volcanology and seismic activity persisting to the present time. In addition, there are several submarine volcanos in the Azores (such as [[Dom João de Castro Bank]]), that have erupted historically (such as the Serrata eruption off the coast of [[Terceira]] Island). The last major volcanic event occurred in 1957-58 along the western coast of Faial Island, which formed the Capelinhos Volcano. Seismic events are common in the Azores.
The Azores are occasionally subject to very strong [[earthquake]]s, as is the continental coast. [[Wildfire]]s occur mostly in the summer in mainland Portugal and extreme weather in the form of strong winds and floods also occurs mainly in winter. The Azores are occasionally stricken by tropical cyclones such as [[Hurricane Jeanne (1998)]] and [[Hurricane Gordon (2006)]].