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Velas (Portuguese: [ˈvɛlɐʃ]) is a municipality in the São Jorge Island, in the Portuguese autonomous region of Azores. The municipality encompasses the western portion of the island, with its municipal seat in the town of Velas on the south coast, and is divided into six parishes. The population in 2011 was 5,398, in an area of 117.38 km². History The origin of the name Velas has never been clarified by historians, although it may refer to the number of sailing ships that congregated in the muni…