The Amazing Azores 7-06-23
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- Today was a moving morning as we got our bags ready for the airport to leave Terceira Island and fly to Pico Island. Arriving at Pico Island, we are greeted by the local guide, Susane, and find out that today, an overwhelming number of scouts on the island gather from all of the Azores that have taken the large local buses. We were informed that they acquired two mini-vans and managed with that. It wasn't long, and we were looking at chocolate drops of lava stones on the coastal waters of Cachorro. And walking around, we came to this stone resembling a dog's head. Closer inspection showed that the ear was broken off and had a repair done to it. We must keep the magic alive as we love our imagination always to be triggered. Susane had some maps of the Island and passed out what she had. The Azores are doing less printing and more online. Following a coastal highway, I noticed a lot of patterned lava rock fences that cut down on the wind and salt spray in the air, warming the air temperature. We next visited an old Whaling Factory in the village of Sao Roque that has been turned into a museum.
I had no idea how big a whale's jaw bone could be and their large teeth. The factory showed the equipment to do this process, which took a lot of equipment and people. It was now time for some lunch, and we went to a local one that was also winey, as well as a museum in Santo Antonio called Adega A Buraca. The meal was good, and the host, Christina, was excellent in storytelling the family business and sharing samples for those interested. We next moved on to another Whalers' Museum in Lajes do Pico, where our guides had the 20-minute video changed to English. After watching this film, you got the sense that this was the livelihood of the people of the Azores. There was also a good amount of artwork from different bone parts of the whale. With some free time, I walked the seashore and pondered on the people working and all the boats going to sea. The Pico Mountain showed some hope as it played peek-a-boo with the clouds trying to wrap its blanket around its crown as our bus drove us to Lagoa Do Capitao for a lake view and Pico in the backdrop. I was surprised by all the ducks following us and thought they must have received a handout before and of the cows that never go by the hydrangeas. Well, I proved that wrong as I got mine in the camera. Finding our way to (ma del ling da ) Madalenda, we checked into the Hotel Caravelas and, a short time later, went to dinner at Picoceano Restaurant, not far away.
A nice fishing village and town scenery is great
Museu dos Baleeiros
ABOUT
Museu dos Baleeiros
Museums and Palaces
Whalers’ Museum
Get to know all about one of the most important activities in the history of the island of Pico and the Azores: whaling. At Lajes do Pico, you can now visit the Whalers’ Museum installed in three old houses where the whalers used to keep their boats and an old blacksmith’s forge, a set of buildings dating from the 19th century that still preserve many of their original features.
Also on display in the museum is a collection of the tools and equipment used in whale hunting, as well as carved and engraved pieces made from the bones and teeth of whales, a popular form of art known as “scrimshaw”.
Over a third of the Natura 2000 protected areas of the Azores are located on Pico. It has also the largest number of volcanic cavities (lava caves) of anywhere in the archipelago, 86 out of 225.[16]
Climate[edit]
Azores junipers showing their response to the humid climate in the central reserve of the island, near Lagoa do Capitão (Captain's Lake)
Pico, like the remaining islands of the archipelago, has a mild maritime climate with high precipitation for most of the year, high humidity and constant winds. However, due to its unusual topographic variation, temperature and precipitation levels vary significantly depending on both altitude and location (generally, rainfall is more concentrated in the east). Temperatures vary around 8 °C between the coolest and the warmest month (February and August respectively)
At lower elevations, where most of the population resides, Pico has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cfa; Thornthwaite: B) with mild, rainy winters (mean around 14.5 °C (58.1 °F)) and warm, noticeably drier summers, (mean around 22 °C (72 °F)) although generally not dry enough to be classified as Mediterranean.[6] It has an average annual temperature of 17.5-18 °C (63.5-64.4 °F) and around 1,000 to 1,600 mm (39 to 63 in) of precipitation fall each year, though values as high as 2,000 mm (79 in) are typical on the central northeast coast (São Roque, Prainha and Santo Amaro).[17][18] Because of its high relative humidity (around 80%), summers can feel slightly warmer than they really are.[19][20]
At higher elevations, like the Achada Plateau, temperatures are cooler and precipitation increases, it therefore transitions into a wet oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb; Thornthwaite: A), average relative humidity stays around 90%[19][6] and fogs produced by the cooling of rising air masses from the ocean are persistent, which, in turn, creates an environment typical of a cloud forest. Places such as the Caiado and Paul lakes receive, respectively, 4,698 and 3,357 millimetres (185.0 and 132.2 in)[21] of precipitation each year and Mount Pico is recognized as receiving the largest annual rainfall in Portugal (over 5,000 mm (200 in) per year at the northeastern flanks of the volcano).
At around 1,200 m (3,900 ft), the climate becomes subpolar oceanic (Cfc) (somewhat comparable to the Faroe Islands). As altitude surpasses 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and exceeds the planetary boundary layer, both precipitation and humidity levels decrease reaching the top of Mount Pico which averages only around 500 millimetres (20 in) of precipitation. Temperatures at the peak of the stratovolcano (~2,300 metres (7,500 ft) a.s.l.) average 2 °C (36 °F) and snow can be frequently seen in the cooler months, one of the few places in the archipelago where this phenomenon is possible.[17] The climate is classified as alpine at the very top.[21]
Pico has registered the highest temperature ever recorded in the Azores, 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) on 7 September 1985 at Pico Airport[22] and although there are no climatic stations at Mount Pico, it is likely that the island has also experienced the lowest temperatures in the archipelago at the top of the mountain.
hideClimate data for Pico Airport, Bandeiras, Madalena, Pico Island, Azores
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 16.6
Geological, geomorphological and climatic constraints played (and still have) a determining role in economic activity, in the distribution of urban agglomerations and in demographic evolution. The settlement pattern is a good example of the native's adaptation to the specific physical geography of this island, developing mainly along the coast and along the roads of communication. The main urban centers, municipality seats, are located by the sea: Madalena, São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico.[6]
Regarding demographic behavior, the population has continued to decline since the middle of the last century, a trend that continues to the present day. However, the 1960s and 1970s were the decades that showed a more negative population variation rate, due to the intense emigration surge that was generated at this time and that was generalized to the entire archipelago. Unlike other islands in the Azores, in the 1990s the situation did not change, continuing to register a negative population variation (-2.6%), even higher than that registered in the 1980s. According to the XIV General Census of Population (INE, 2002), the population totaled 14,806 inhabitants, which represents a decrease of 396 inhabitants compared to 1991. In 2001, the municipality of Madalena had the largest population (6,136 individuals), followed by Lajes do Pico (5,041 individuals) and São Roque (3,629 individuals). The population density (33.3 inhabitants/km2) was among the lowest in the archipelago and the age structure showed signs of aging, with more than 50% of the population aged between 25 and 64 years, against 30% of young people and about 20% of seniors.[6]
As of 2021, the total population is estimated to be around 13,895 inhabitants.[2]
Economy[edit]
Whaling was once one of the main industries of Pico
Historically, Pico was largely dependent on Faial for its economic, political and social activities, and it still is to this day, although mitigated by the entrepreneurial dynamics of its population and by the centralities created by the autonomous regime. The close relations with the neighboring island are still established in the maritime routes that cross the channel daily. Fishing is one of the main activities of the primary sector, namely the capture of tuna for the canning industry, which mainly employs female labor in the processing of fish. Dairy farms supply raw material to the various cheese factories, whose product is highly appreciated for its artisanal characteristics (soft paste).[6]
Currently, it is the secondary and tertiary activity sectors that have the greatest dynamism, occupying around 30% and 50% of the active population, respectively, due to the growth in the offer of services and the installation of branches of the regional administration, which generate specialized employment. The employment rate increased in the 1990s, from 35% to 40%, and contrary to the regional average, the unemployment rate remained stable from 1991 to 2001 (3.2%). However, the level of education is low, with most inhabitants having only the 1st cycle of basic education. Note that only 4.3% have higher education, which is lower than the regional average (5.2%). This situation, together with the still significant percentage of working people in the primary sector (20%), indicates an unfavorable panorama in terms of professional qualifications among the active population.[6]
Like the other islands, tourism is also an emerging activity in Pico, seen as a strategic pillar for diversifying the economic base. The offer of accommodation has progressed, seeking to respond to the needs of an increasingly demanding destination, with five hotel units (hotels, pensions and others) and four for tourism in rural areas (2002). The support services to visitors and the establishments of restaurants, culture, car rental, tourist entertainment, among others, multiply. As the main whaling center in the Azores, economic agents knew how to transform whale watching into a flourishing business, through the reactivation of an ancestral activity with an undeniable heritage of historical and cultural interest (boats, whaling boats, lookouts, former manufacturing industries, etc.). The capture of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) for oil extraction and production of meal for animal feed definitively ceased in the 1980s, due to the replacement of whale-derived products and compliance with international conventions. The first operator of «whale watching» was installed in Lajes do Pico, with around 26 companies linked to nautical activities.[6]
Pico Wine and vine culture[edit]
The vine culture on Pico Island began in the late 15th century, when the settlement of the island started. The Verdelho vines found ideal conditions to grow and mature in the volcanic soil and dark stone walls (currais). Later, it was exported to many countries in Europe and the Americas, and even reached the Russian court tables. Years later, wine production is not as important of an economic activity as it used to be, despite trials to improve the varieties and incentives for the restoration of «currais». The vineyards, which mark the island's landscape and ancestral cultural practices, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004 (see Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture).[6][29]
"Cachorro" head
An ocean view the "Cachorro" head - a landmark on Pico Island were the rock formations look like a head of a dog. Pico Island, Azores, Portugal.
Arcos do Cachorro (Arches of the Puppy) - [Ilha do Pico
Porto do Cachorro
Pico, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001)
A street in Porto do Cachorro
Porto do Cachorro meets the sea on Pico’s northwestern coast (map). It is an old, traditional town with narrow streets along a rugged coastline of rapidly cooled lava flows. When people settle the island they naturally used locally available building materials. For Pico that meant charcoal-black volcanic rocks. Thus, the buildings and walls of these rural towns looked different than just about anywhere else in the Azores.
________________________________________
A History of Vineyards
Wine Cellar
Vineyards are common along this stretch of Pico’s coastline. Accordingly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the “Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture” to its World Heritage Center list in 2004. UNESCO based this designation on “the adaptation of farming practices to a remote and challenging environment.”
Vignerons cellar their wine in a number of old stone sheds in Porto do Cachorro. Here they age their classic wine called “verdelho.” This style, technically an aperitif, does particularly well in the volcanic soils of Pico. They also use low stone walls to protect vines from the elements. This allows them to produce various red and white wines in addition to the more traditional style.
Once in decline, viticulture continues to grow in popularity on the island. One of the agricultural cooperatives produces a commonly available brand known as “Terras da Lava.”
________________________________________
Volcanic Terrain
Porto do Cachorro Coastline
A stretch of coastline just outside of town has an unusual name. They call it Arcos do Cachorro. Translated into English, that means literally “Arches of the Puppy.” So, that makes the town “Port Puppy.” The name may come from a nearby rock formation that resembles the muzzle of a dog.
The entire area sits atop on an old lava flow. Hot magma and cool ocean water reacted vigorously to produce tunnels, caves, arches, rocks and all sorts of unusually twisted coastal features.
Aside from a few slaves sent to herd sheep in isolation before European settlement, the island's first inhabitants were primarily Portuguese, but of diverse origins.[5][6] Settlers of Portuguese origin arrived from different parts of the metropolis, some passing though Madeira Island or other Azorean islands, particularly Terceira. Some individuals had noble origins, owning land and goods; there were secular and regular clergy, especially the Franciscans; and another group consisted of merchants, craftsmen, farmers and artisans. A small number of Jews came from the beginning of the 16th century, and there were indentured slaves of African origin at this time who farmed and did domestic work. The first municipality in Pico was established at Lajes, where fresh water was available (the place-name (Ribeiras) proves this). Around 9,000 lived on Pico by 1695. Pico moved "up the ladder" of urban hierarchies from fifth largest centre in the Azores to fourth, behind São Miguel, Terceira and Faial. By the middle of the 18th century the population was over 19,000 people. In 1542, the inhabitants of the north of the island asked King João III to create a second village, to allow better law and order in a frontier economy with theft and corruption. São Roque do Pico was established.[5] It was only much later, when the link between the islands of Pico and Faial strengthened further, that there was a need to create a third municipality. Madalena was established in 1723 (the larger town of Horta is 7 km away on Faial, and was where many of the island's property-owners and winemakers lived).[5][6] The islands of Pico and Faial were administered jointly until 1766, when Pico became an integral part of the Province of the Azores, led by a captain-general based in Angra. Centralizing governance in this way had poor success: in 1836, the people of Pico were integrated into a smaller administrative unit again, the third Azorean district, with the islands of Faial, Flores and Corvo.[6] The town of Madalena, circa 1848 Settlers initially farmed wheat and some olives in addition to developing a woad industry, as on Faial (based on lichens that were exported to Flanders to produce commercial dyes). The two islands often shared livelihood activities[9] Viticulture, helped by the richer soils found in suitable micro-climates, then grew rapidly. The industry was disturbed by the last volcanic eruptions, but viticulture expanded commercial livelihood opportunities considerably. Pico's famous verdelho wine production, dating back two centuries, was widely appreciated in many countries (including England and in the Americas and even in the palaces of the Russian czars). Viticulture declined with the spread of powdery mildew and phylloxera during the middle of the 19th century, creating a crisis on the island that lasted until the 20th century.[9] The other major economic activity was whaling. The presence of American and British whalers in the waters of the Azores at the end of the 18th century stabilized the economy. Spermwhale hunting became the primary industry around the island until it was abolished in 1986. The whale factory is now a museum.[10][9] Geography[edit] Physical geography[edit] Panorama of the westernmost part of the Island, and Faial Island at a distance View of the stratovolcano near Pico Wine Museum High altitude area of the island, showing cloud cover adjacent to the summit The two islets at the entrance to Madalena harbor, formed from a submerged crater Detailed map of Pico and neighbouring Faial The island is 17.5 km south of São Jorge and just 7 km east of Faial, in the Central Group of islands, an area that is colloquially known as O Triângulo (The Triangle). Pico is 46.3 kilometers long, and at its maximum extent about 16 kilometers wide; making it the second largest of the Azores islands. The 151.8 km coastline is slightly indented with inlets and coves. Accessibility to the sea poses no difficulties, except in sections with plunging, unstable cliffs, subject to frequent landslides (as seen in the northeast and southeast). Seabirds find favorable conditions for nesting in these habitats, in particular the species of Tern (Sterna hirundo and Sterna dougallii) and Shearwater (Calonectris borealis). The rocky substrates prevail throughout the coast (slabs that alternate with rolled pebbles), there are no sandy beaches, but there are numerous tide pools and natural inlets used for bathing.[6] Along the central plain of volcano cones to the eastern coast, the landscape is pitted with the remnants of craters and lake-filled cones, and dominated by the ancient volcano of Topo. Geomorphologically, the island is composed of three units:[11][12] • Topo Volcano - Located on the southernmost side of the island, it corresponds to an ancient shield volcano created by the overlap of various lava flows and destroyed by erosion and landslides; • Achada Plateau - Extending from the east side of the island to the stratovolcano, the Achada Plateau is an axial zone comprising spatter and lava cones along a mountainous ridge filled with lake-filled craters, dense scrub and forests. Cones in this region are oriented along a west-northwest and south-southeast axis along a path east to west between the other volcanic structures; • Pico Volcano - It occupies the western portion of the island, and corresponds to a central volcano with 2,351 m (7,713 ft) in altitude, created by numerous Hawaiian and Strombolian eruptions. Along its flanks are diverse lava and spatter cones that are formed along radial fractures and faults. Generally, Pico Island's tectonic structures are oriented along a west-northwest to east-southeast and a northeast to southwest axis. The main axis controls the main structures, especially the main mountain of Pico, while the secondary axises affect the radial fractures and faults along the central plain and eastern volcano. Similar to the geomorphological structures described above, the volcanic landforms have been identified by Madeira (1998) in the following units:[13] • Volcanic Complex of Lajes - pertains to the oldest volcanic structures, comprising volcanoes, lavas and debris that are between 35 and 300,000 thousand years old; it makes up the structures of the eastern part of the island, including the ancient volcano of Topo. • Volcanic Complex of Calheta de Nesquim - dating to about 230,000 thousand years ago, this is a fissural zone of cones and basaltic lavas, associated with the Achada Plain, and the many faults along the central plateau of the island. • Volcanic Complex of Madalena - the most recent volcanic complex, with both geological and historical eruptions; it includes the basaltic stratovolcano of Pico, but also many of the cones, faults and lava fields that circle the 2,351 meter summit. The last volcanic eruption (which is debatable) occurred in 1963, in a small submarine eruption off the northwest coast (north of Cachorro in Santa Luzia). Prior to this, major volcanic activity was evident in lava fields generated in only the areas of Prainha (1562-64), Santa Luzia (1718), São João (1718) and Silveira (1720). The paths of the lava flows are still visible; those in the 16th century and 1718 were particularly substantial, extending for over 10 km. Today, the only visible evidence of active volcanism appears on the summit of Pico, in the base and interior of the Piqueninho (the mini-peak on the summit); there are irregular emissions from cracks in this zone. Additionally, there are emissions on the eastern flanks between 1500 and 2000 meters altitude. There have also been found areas of de-gasification along the fault associated with the Lagoa do Capitão and another in the Topo Volcano, as well as a spring rich in CO2 in the area of Silveira. Earthquakes[edit] Pico, much like the other islands, is susceptible to seismic events, although their epicenters have primarily been localized in the Faial-Pico or Pico-São Jorge Channels. Only three significant tectonic earthquakes have hit the island of Pico since the beginning of settlement: The 1757 earthquake, which caused significant damage in the eastern region of the island including the death of 11 people and the collapse of a church and a few houses; the 1973 seismic crisis (October 1973 - May 1974) in which the main earthquake (with magnitude 5.5) did considerable damage to 604 houses in Faial and 2,000 in Pico, which left nearly 5,000 people homeless;[6] and the July 9, 1998 earthquake, the strongest earthquake registered in the last 30 years, which had its epicenter 5 kilometers northeast of Ponta da Ribeirinha, on the island of Faial, reaching a 5.8 magnitude. It was felt on Pico, with a maximum intensity level of VII on the Mercalli scale; some homes were damaged and possessions were buffeted. Other violent earthquakes which have affected the island include: the 1957-58 seismic events associated with the eruption of the Capelinhos volcano (on Faial), the February 1964 earthquake on the island of São Jorge, and the 1926 earthquake, whose epicenter was registered in the Faial-Pico Channel. Biome[edit]
WHALING INDUSTRY MUSEUM
The Whaling Industry Museum, formerly Fábrica da Baleia Armações Baleeiras Reunidas, Lda., in São Roque do Pico, is the first public industrial museum in the Azores. Sociedade das Armações Baleeiras Reunidas, Lda., established in 1942, articulated two production systems: whale fishing (sperm whales) and the production of its derivatives, as well as their respective commercialization. This factory unit, the largest and most important sperm whale transformation and processing complex in the Azores, which operated between 1946 and 1984, is an industrial construction, with a total area of around 1200m2.
The Whaling Industry Museum encompasses the following built complex:
1. Whale Factory;
2. Blacksmith-foundry and metalwork-turning building;
3. Former Carpentry Building, converted into a Temporary Exhibition Gallery;
4. Truck garage building, adapted for reserves and workshop;
5. Toilet;
6. Inner square and public memorial;
7. Chimney;
8. Winches and meat mill, located abroad;
9. Sperm whale cutting yard and ramp;
10. Whale oil deposits.
The main building - the Factory -, where the technical process of producing oil, flour, fertilizers and vitamins took place, based on the transformation of bacon, meat, bones and sperm whale livers, is made up of the following equipment: two boilers; four bacon autoclaves; two meat and bone autoclaves; winches for hauling bacon; two fuel tanks; two meat and bone dryers; a press; a liver mill; three liver autoclaves; an oil centrifuge; a power plant, with two generators; a refrigerator; a truck; a flour mill; equipment for sifting, weighing and bagging flour; underground deposits of whale oil; pumps to transfer oil and pipeline pipes.
The Whaling Industry Museum is, therefore, an industrial archeology museum. Of an ethnographic nature are the cutting and dismantling/quartering objects of sperm whales, documentation relating to the Factory's activity, photographs related to whaling activity and the Port of São Roque do Pico, as well as miniatures of sperm whales and whaling vessels. This industrial musealization - “in situ” -, valued by urban and landscape requalification works, is assumed to be a strategic instrument for the integrated development of the Municipality, capable of contributing decisively to its cultural and identity promotion, on a local and national scale. regional and national.
Pico Island Coordinates:
38°27′57″N 28°20′0″W
Pico Island Native name: Ilha do Pico Nickname: The Black Island The island of Pico, as seen from the north-west coast in the outskirts of Madalena with vineyards and Mount Pico in the background Location of the island of Pico in the archipelago of the Azores Etymology Portuguese for peak Geography Location Atlantic Ocean Coordinates 38°27′57″N 28°20′0″W Archipelago Azores Area 444.97 km2 (171.80 sq mi)[1] Area rank 3rd largest island in Portugal Coastline 151.84 km (94.349 mi)[1] Highest elevation 2,351 m (7713 ft)[1] Highest point Mount Pico Administration Portugal Autonomous Region Azores Municipalities • Lajes do Pico • Madalena • São Roque do Pico Demographics Demonym Picoense, Picaroto Population 13,883 (2021)[2] Pop. density 31/km2 (80/sq mi) Languages Portuguese Ethnic groups Portuguese Additional information Time zone • UTC−01:00 Pico Island (Ilha do Pico, Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈiʎɐ ðu ˈpiku]) is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores. The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the tradition of the Portuguese poet, Raul Brandão, Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"), for its black volcanic soils, which nourish its UNESCO-designated vineyards that once allowed the development of the island's economy. Pico is the second largest and, geologically speaking, the most recently formed island of the Azores, being around 300,000 years old.[3] History[edit] A traditional windmill along the coast of Monte, in the municipality of Madalena Convent of São Pedro de Alcântara, a 17th-century building Radar image of Pico Island next to Faial and São Jorge islands The exact date of the island's discovery is not known. However, in the 1375 Catalan Atlas, Pico is depicted along several other islands of the Azores, where it is labelled as li colunbj. In Cristoforo Soligo's map from 1475, Pico is described both as Dom Diniz (or São Diniz) island and as Insula Columbi.[4] Although the Azores were inhabited since 1439, settlement on Pico only started in the 1480s when Pico became part of the neighboring island of Faial's control. Pico is thought to be the last of the islands of the Central Group to be occupied.[5] In a letter dated March 28, 1481, the administrator of the Azores, D. Beatriz, gave the possession of the island of Pico to the first captain of the donatarie, D. Álvaro d'Ornelas, a resident of island of Madeira, on the condition that he populate the island ('Captains', often of noble heritage, obtained land rights in regions not important enough to merit a 'governor', and were a cheap way for the state to settle new territory). d'Ornelas failed to attract settlers, so on December 29, 1482, the Flemish captain of the island of Faial, 7 km from Pico, Jós d'Hutra, became the new captain. The transfer of the island of Pico to Jós d'Hutra not only confirms that Pico was not colonized at the end of the 15th century, but also demonstrates the interest in boosting the insular population of the islands of the central group. This was understandable given the growing geo-economic importance of the Azores archipelago at that time, as the Portuguese monarchy was expanding into Morocco and along the west African coast.[6] Population grew slowly, in part because of difficulties cultivating wheat. By 1587, there were less than 3,000 inhabitants. Soil quality is conditioned by the volcanic soils [6] consisting mostly of lightly weathered recent basalt (designated as "biscoitos" or "mistérios"). Examples include the Mistério de São João, resulting from a 1718 eruption. In addition, there are few rivers on the island compared to other parts of the archipelago. The last eruptions of magma took place in 1718 and 1720 and generated three volcanic cinder cones (Mistérios): Santa Luzia and São João in 1718[7] and Silveira in 1720.[8]
Mount Pico
Coordinates: 38°28′08″N 28°23′56″W
Mount Pico
Ponta do Pico
Aerial view of Mount Pico
Highest point
Elevation
2,351 m (7,713 ft)[1]
Prominence
2,351 m (7,713 ft)[1]
Parent peak
None - HP Pico
Listing
Country high point
Ultra
Coordinates
38°28′08″N 28°23′56″W[1]
Geography
Mount Pico
Location in the Azores, on the island of Pico
Show map of AzoresShow map of PicoShow map of Atlantic OceanShow all
Location Pico Island, Azores
Parent range
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Geology
Age of rock
< 230,000 Years
Mountain type
Stratovolcano
Last eruption
July to December 1720[2]
Climbing
Easiest route
Scramble, Class 2; YDS Grade II
Mount Pico Nature Reserve
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Area 13.41 km2 (5.18 sq mi)[3]
Established 1972
Visitors > 20,000 (in 2019)[4]
Governing body ICNF
Mount Pico (Portuguese: Montanha do Pico) is a currently quiescent stratovolcano located on Pico Island, in the mid-Atlantic archipelago of the Azores. It is the highest mountain in Portugal, at 2,351 metres (7,713 ft) above sea level, and is one of the highest Atlantic mountains; it is more than twice the elevation of any other peak in the Azores. It has been a designated nature reserve since 1972.
Eruptive history[edit]
Historical eruptions of Pico have occurred from vents on its flanks rather than the summit crater. In 1562-1564, an eruption on the southeast flank produced lava flows which reached the sea. Another flank eruption in 1718 also produced flows which reached the coast.[5] The most recent eruption occurred in December 1720.
On 29 September 2009 there were reports from local news sources that indicated that a fumarole existing at the pinnacle of the mountain (Piquinho) began emitting volcanic gas. The region's seismic and volcanological monitoring centre (Portuguese: CIVISA Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores) indicated that the phenomenon occurred in the early morning, turning intense and visible in various points throughout the island and from Faial. Although the event resulted from exceptional meteorological conditions and was visible in the Central Group, there was no liberation of anomalous volcanic gases and all other parameters fell within norms.[6]
Geology[edit]
Mount Pico volcano is part of the Madalena Volcanic Complex, one of three volcanological units that comprise the island of Pico, associated with three historic eruptions in 1562, 1718 and 1720.[7] Current morphology suggests an age dating to the Holocene age, confirmed by radiocarbon dates younger than 6000 years.[7][8][9] Structurally, this complex can be subdivided into two other sections: the Pico Volcano and the East Fissural Zone.[7]
Pico is a stratovolcano (or composite), with a pit crater on its summit.[7] Pico Alto is the round crater about 500 meters (1,600 ft) in diameter and 30 meters deep that tops the volcano, with Piquinho or Pico Pequeno (both names meaning "small peak" in Portuguese), a small volcanic cone, rising 70 metres within it to form the true summit. Meanwhile, the East Fissural Zone comprises several alignments of Hawaiian/Strombolian cinder cones and associated lava flows, which overflowed many of the cliffs, cut in older units and originated lava deltas (Portuguese: fajãs).[7]
The tectonic structure is characterized by two fault systems.[7] The main WNW-ESE structures are the dextral faults of Lagoa do Capitão and Topo, that merge to the east, forming a narrow shallow graben (or trench).[7] To the west, the graben is completely covered by the Pico stratovolcano occurring less than 10,000 years ago, and infilled by lava flows and cones of the Eastern Fissural zone, that includes many of the volcanic alignments and scarps.[7] The second fault zone, running NNW-SSE, are markedly less in number and includes normal left lateral, oblique slip faults responsible for the main volcanic eruptions: the Lomba de Fogo-São João fault (basis of the 1718 eruption) and the Santo António volcanic alignment.[7]
On top of Pico (at Piquinho) there is an area of permanent degasification characterized by the emission of water vapour at a temperature of between 50 °C to 75 °C. In addition, other vents also exist between 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) and 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, as well as diffuse degasification along the graben between the Lagoa do Capitão and Topo faults. There is also a carbon dioxide-rich spring in the locality of Silveira (along the southern coast of Lajes do Pico, formed in the base of Pico.
Observatory[edit]
The observatory station in 2007
Mount Pico's long topographic isolation and low altitude marine boundary layer makes it an ideal place for the study of aerosol particles. In 1998, an observatory station (PICO-NARE) was placed on the summit caldera at 2,225 m (7,300 ft) altitude. The observatory was founded and is operated by the University of the Azores, with the cooperation of the Michigan Technological University, the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, and the University of Colorado Boulder, along with other international scientists, and is designed to study the impacts that air pollutants emitted in North America and Europe have on the atmosphere over the North Atlantic Ocean.[10][11][12]
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Vegetated cavern on Mount Pico
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The pit crater rim of Pico Alto on the summit of Pico volcano
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The pinnacle of the mountain: Piquinho or Pico Pequeno
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Mount Pico as it can be seen from Graciosa island (the air distance is about 70 km)
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The landscape of the East Fissural Zone with some scoria cones.
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View of Madalena and Faial Island.
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Snow on the mountain peak in early 2006.
THE AZORES
WHALES ARE OUR HISTORY
AZORES
FROM WHALE HUNTING TO WHALE WATCHING
Think of the Azores and you’ll likely picture a variety of whales and dolphins swimming off our shores. This may be the best place on earth to view these magnificent creatures. Some like the sperm whale live here year-round. Many others pass through our 9-island archipelago on their migratory routes, stopping to feed on the rich plankton and krill that thrive in our deep coastal waters exceeding 3,000 meters (9,800 ft).
Of the 81 species of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) known world-wide, you’ll find 28 of them right here in our cool, blue waters.
18TH CENTURY
The whaling industry literally sailed to the Azores in the form of large sailing ships, called Yankee Whalers. Coming from the Americas, they were the first to explore our waters to hunt whales. They found a bounty of whales here and harvested the great creatures for their oil, used in lamps.
19TH CENTURY
The American ships sought harbor in the Azores to replenish their supplies. This brought them in contact with the men of the Azores who saw whaling as an economic opportunity and joined the whalers, sailing back to the United States to learn the trade. This was their introduction to the whaling industry.
1864
During this period in the 19th Century, many islanders learned their new craft aboard large American whaling ships. Returning to their homeland, they introduced whaling culture and industry to the Azores.
1896 - 1949
Sperm whales were so plentiful in the Azores and swam so close to the shore that hunting techniques evolved to fit this environment. The large Yankee whalers were abandoned and lookout towers, called vigias, were erected for spotters to locate the whales. Upon seeing a whale, the hunters launched oar-powered boats to quickly reach their prey.
1960
With the rise of the environmental movement and new technologies, whaling began to decline in the late 1960s. The peak whaling years of 1896 - 1949 had taken a heavy toll - whaling records show that 12,000 whales had been captured and killed.
1986
The protection of whales received a boost from the Bern Convention (1979), the first international treaty created to protect animal species and their habitats; and from the International Whaling Commission Moratorium (1982), which came into effect in 1986. Regulations now prohibited the capture of all marine mammals in Portuguese waters.
1987
This was a watershed moment for hunting whales in the Azores. The last whales were pursued at Pico Island, ending hundreds of years of whaling in our archipelago.
1993
Futurismo Whale Watching began, one of the first companies to offer tours in the Azores. This new whale watching adventure has restored the whaling culture to the Azores in an exciting and environmentally friendly way.
WHAT HAS CHANGED
Many of the old whaling artifacts have transitioned for modern use. The old whaling boats have been refurbished and are used in regattas. The former whale processing plant on Pico Island has become a Whaling Museum in São Roque, with displays of products that were derived from the whales.
The old lookout posts, or vigias, have been restored and once again are used to spot whales - although now for a more joyful purpose. Futurismo is proud to use these traditional methods for locating these beautiful sea creatures.
TODAY
Watching whales and dolphins in the Azores is a thriving adventure activity - one of excitement, fun, and increasing environmental appreciation. For anyone visiting our beautiful islands, this is the must-do experience.