Água de Pau Massif

This article is about the volcano complex. For the parish of the same name, see Água de Pau.
Água de Pau Massif (Maciço de Água de Pau)
Massif (Maciço)
A view of portion of the Inferior Complex of Água de Pau along the flanks of Ribeira Grande
Official name: Maciço de Água de Pau/Vulcão Água de Pau
Named for: Água de Pau
Nickname: Vulcão da Lagoa do Fogo
Country Portugal
Autonomous Region Azores
Islands Eastern Group
Location Azores Platform, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Atlantic Ocean
Municipalities Lagoa, Ribeira Grande, Vila Franca do Campo
Landmark Lagoa do Fogo
Highest point Pico da Barrosa
 - elevation 949 m (3,114 ft)
 - coordinates 37°45′44″N 25°28′25″W / 37.76222°N 25.47361°W / 37.76222; -25.47361
Lowest point Sea level
 - location Atlantic Ocean
 - elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Area 200 km2 (77 sq mi)
Biomes Temperate, Mediterranean
Geology Alkali basalt, Tephra, Trachyte, Trachybasalt
Orogeny Volcanism
Period Holocene
Location of the Água de Pau Massif on the island of São Miguel

Água de Pau Massif is a stratovolcanic complex, located in central part of the island of São Miguel, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. More recognizable for the Lagoa do Fogo at its centre, the volcanic complex includes centuries of geomorphological structures that include lava domes, cones and encrusted lava flows that have marked its history from, the last, 45,000 years BC.

History

The northern flank, showing the rolling hills of the Inferior Complex near the parish of Santa Bárbara and the summit of Pico da Barrosa.

The outer caldera dates from between 30,000 to 45,000 years ago, and comprises an area 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) wide and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) long outer caldera (corresponding to the Água de Pau Massif).[1] The inner caldera, which is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) wide and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) long was formed about 15,000 years ago. It is the younger inner caldera that is partially filled by the crater lake Lagoa do Fogo.

Until about 5000 years ago, activity in the caldera created several lava domes on the northern and western flanks.[1]

Some of the cinder cones on these flanks are marked by radial and concentric fissures and have been active within the last 5000 years. The region has been marked by five large eruptions, which included sub aerial events 1563, 1564 and 1652.[1][2] The 1563 eruption, for example was characterized by a hydromagnetic event in the interior of the caldera, which was followed four days later by an effusive eruption, while the 1564 was an explosive hydromagmatic event.[3]

Owing to the existence of hot springs along the northwest flank, particular in the so name Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande and Caldeira Velha, the region has been used in the generation of geothermal energy or as therapeutic tourist spas.[1]

Geography

A view from Pico da Barrosa towards the central caldera of the Superior complex
The view of the crater wall from the area of Lombadas

Situated in the central part of the island, Água de Pau corresponds to a central volcanic complex and caldera that includes a large lake, punctuated by lava domes and a pumice cone.[4] On the flanks of the massif is the Ribeira Grande Graben, a tectonic structure oriented northwest-southeast, in addition to other regional fractures and radial faults that formed other scoria and pumice cones, or lava domes.[4]

The stratigraphy of the Água de Pau Massif is complex, caused by a diverse volcanic activity over a period dated to 200,000 years.[5] The history of its geological features is divided into two groups.[3][5]

Among the various deposits Fogo A, which dates to roughly 5000 years, corresponds a clear stratigraphy of the island of São Miguel.[5] The flanks of the massif are heavily eroded, with drainage confined to many valleys and gullies.[1]

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pedro Freire (2013), p.15
  2. ↑ "São Miguel: Vulcanismo Historico" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: entro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos da Universidade dos Açores/Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Pedro Freire (2013), p.22
  4. 1 2 "São Miguel: Geomorfologia" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: entro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos da Universidade dos Açores/Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "São Miguel: Unidade Vulcanologicas" (in Portuguese). Ponta Delgada (Azores), Portugal: entro de Vulcanologia e Avaliação de Riscos Geológicos da Universidade dos Açores/Centro de Informação e Vigilância Sismovulcânica dos Açores.
Sources
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