TERCEIRA ISLAND

Portuguese Ilha Terceira, island, part of the Portuguese Azores archipelago, in the North Atlantic Ocean. It occupies an area of 153 square miles (397 square km). Terceira (The Third) was so called because it was the third island in the Azores to be discovered by the Portuguese. The chief town and port is Angra do Herosmo, which was formerly capital of the Azores. The only other town of importance is Praia da Vitria, with a breakwater-protected bay, which handles supplies for a NATO air base at Lajes on the northeast coast of the island. Terceira's economy is basically agricultural, supplemented by a growing tourist trade. Pop. (1987 est.) 55,800.