LAJES

also spelled Lages, city, east-central Santa Catarina estado (state), southern Brazil, lying north of the Caveiras River in the Paran Mountains, at 3,000 feet (900 m) above sea level. Formed as a municipality in 1800, it was settled chiefly by Germans and in 1866 was elevated to city status. Livestock raising and industry are now the main economic activities. Principal products include lumber, corn (maize), feijo (beans), wheat, potatoes, and oats. Lajes is on the main highway linking So Paulo and Prto Alegre. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 137,169. town, northeast Terceira Island, Portuguese Azores. In 1941 the Portuguese government selected the town's site, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of the city of Angra do Herosmo, as an air base. It became a major Allied air installation during World War II and later a joint U.S. and Portuguese base within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The airfield is also an important weather-forecasting point for the North Atlantic. Pop. (1981) 2,863.