Bay of Angra

Bay of Angra
A view of the bay of Angra, including Monte Brasil and the city of Angra do Heroísmo
Location	Azores
Coordinates	38°39′N 27°13′W / 38.650°N 27.217°W / 38.650; -27.217
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Portugal
Average depth	40 metres (130 ft)
Islands	Terceira
Settlements	Angra do Heroísmo

Bay of Angra (Portuguese: Baía de Angra) is a natural bay within the coastal extent of the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, on the Portuguese island of Terceira in the archipelago of the Azores. Within an average depth of 40 metres (130 ft), the bay has been of historical importance to the island; since the 15th century, it was a port-of-call for returning merchant shipping from the East Indies and Brazil, laden with gold, silver, porcelain, spices, rare woods, and other goods. These ships would anchor in the Bay of Angra until supported by armed escorts, which would accompany the ships on the rest of their voyage to Portugal. The Bay at Angra provided shelter from northern and northwestern winds; only storms originating to the south or southeast, posed a threat. Nonetheless, the Bay is the final resting-place of several ships affected by the adverse winds: local archives and a rich oral tradition supports the foundering of many ships against the leeward shore.

Given the immense value of the cargo transiting the Azores and the prevalence of pirates in the north Atlantic, the need to defend the city and the bay of Angra was recognized very early. During a period when trade from the Indies was active, the Portuguese built and maintained a defensive corridor around the island of Terceira, and in particular near the Bay of Angra. This was accomplished by setting up a series of forts, batteries and redoubts to provide a crossfire; the redoubts of Monte Brasil and cannon batteries from the Fort of São Sebastião effectively impeded assaults by pirates and invaders.

The early voyages of Christopher Columbus and, later, those of Vasco da Gama (whose brother, Paulo da Gama, was buried in the Convent of São Francisco in Angra) permitted the Azores to take an important role in mid-Atlantic traffic. Early trading expeditions reinforced the importance of the island of Terceira, and allowed the Bay of Angra to develop, as an important trans-shipping stop from the East. This role helped the establishment of a protective fleet, called the "Armada of the Islands" by King Manuel I, and ordered special rules for "...for ships from India in the Azores and the institution of arbiters of customs..." (or maritime magistrates), both in 1520.