Crossword Genius

Geographical disaster leaving capital in Azores? (11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

archipelago

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'geographical disaster' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't understand how one could define the other.

'capital in azores?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'in' could be 'hip' (both can mean fashionable) and 'hip' is found in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'leaving' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for archipelago that I've seen before include "Large group of islands" , "watery domain" , "Bahrain, for one" , "Group of many islands" , "Cluster of islands" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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