Park at the Miradouro, take some photos of the Lagoon then
climb the small trail (50 mts max) at your right. Please be
carefull because the ground can be slippery and muddy.
Bring a pen.
This cache is located next to "Miradouro da Barrosa", one of the
"Miradouros" (bellevue) available around Lagoa do Fogo (Fire
Lagoon), from which you will have fantastic panoramic views
over one of the most popular natural attractions in São Miguel
island.
Lagoa do Fogo is a crater lake within the Agua de Pau stratovolcano
in the center of the island of São Miguel Island in the
Azores.
This Lagoon is also the highest lagoon in the island, since it is
part of a mountain with its highest point at 949 meters. The
lagoon, beeing in the center of the crater, is at a lower
quota, around 575 meters. The maximum water depth in this
lagoon is 30 meters. The walls in the caldera can reach
unevennesses of 300 meters.
Agua de Pau stratovolcano in central Sao Miguel Island contains an
outer 4 x 7 km caldera formed about 30,000 to 45,000 years ago and
an inner 2.5 x 3 km caldera that was created about 15,000 years
ago.
The younger caldera is partially filled by the Lagoa do Fogo
caldera lake. Several post-caldera lava domes were emplaced on the
northern and western flanks of the volcano, but activity in the
caldera did not resume until about 5000 years ago.
The 3-cu-km Fogo-A plinian pumice-fall deposit, the product of the
largest-known Holocene eruption in the Azores, was emplaced at this
time. Numerous flank cinder cones mark radial and concentric
fissures, some of which have been active during historical time.
The latest trachytic explosive eruption took place during 1563.
Prominent hot springs are located on the NW flank.
This lagoon is the main water source, in S.Miguel. Other lagoons in
the island have contamination problems, due to the massive use of
agricultural fertilizers rich in nitrogen. The fact that the
lands in the Lagoon area are not very suitable
for cultures or pastures, is a big advantage.
Also, the governmental authorities do not allow any modern
construction around this lake.
Other points of interest:
After finding the cache, follow the road and head to the telecom
antennas at Pico da Barrosa (947mts high). If the weather is good,
you can see north and south of São Miguel.
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