Azores

The Azores is Europe’s premier whale watching destination, with 24 cetacean species recorded in its waters. This Portuguese mid-Atlantic archipelago of 9 volcanic islands spans 2,333 sq km across the Triple Junction of the North American, Eurasian, and African tectonic plates. Sao Miguel alone hosts the emerald Lagoa das Sete Cidades twin crater lakes and Furnas geothermal valley with natural hot springs. Its 24 species outnumber the single dominant species at #7 Maui’s Humpback National Marine Sanctuary, and its 2,333 sq km area is roughly 40% of #5 Bali’s 5,780 sq km.