Lagoa do Fogo

Lagoa do Fogo
Lagoon/Lake of Fire

A view of Lagoa do Fogo from the scenic overlook of Lagoa do Fogo III
Location São Miguel (Azores)
Group Água de Pau Massif
Coordinates 37°45′N 25°28′W / 37.750°N 25.467°W / 37.750; -25.467Coordinates: 37°45′N 25°28′W / 37.750°N 25.467°W / 37.750; -25.467
Type crater lake
Basin countries Portugal
Managing agency Secretária Regional de Recursos Hídricos
Designation Reserva Natural da Lagoa do Fogo
Max. length 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)
Max. width 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi)
Surface area 2182 ha
Max. depth 30 metres (98 ft)
Surface elevation 580 metres (1,900 ft)

Lagoa do Fogo (Lagoon of Fire) is a crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif stratovolcano in the center of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The governmental authorities do not allow any modern construction around this lake. This lake is the highest above sea level on São Miguel Island.

History

Since 1974, Lagoa do Fogo has been under the administration of national legislation as a protected area, forming the Reserva Natural da Lagoa do Fogo (Natural Reserve of Lagoa do Fogo) an area that includes approximately 2,182 hectares (21,820,000 m2), founded by decree-law 152/74 (15 April 1974). It is also covered under law 9/79[1] and confirmed in Azorean regional law 10/82/A (18 June 1982)[2][3]

Geography

A view of the lake from the scenic overlook of Pico do Barrosa
The fine, sedimentary beach of Lagoa do Fogo, with vew of crater rim

Lagoa do Fogo is one of the largest of the water-bodies in the Azores, and occupies the central caldera of the Água de Pau Massif, in the central area of the island of São Miguel. It falls within the borders of the civil parishes of Conceição and Água de Alto, in the municipalities of Ribeira Grande and Vila Franca do Campo, respectively.[4][3] It is part of the hydrological watershed of the same name. The margins of the lake are located 580 metres (1,900 ft) above sea level, although the crater rim, which extends to Pico da Barrosa is located at approximately 949 metres (3,114 ft) altitude.[2][3] The internal flanks of the crater, which is occupied by the lake, are characterized by abrupt cliffs with 48° inclinations.[3][5]

The carved relief affects the course of hydrographic run-off, which is accentuated by torrential precipitation in the region, resulting in accentuated erosion and deposition along the margins.[3][6] A majority of the watercourses are temporary or torrential, with the greatest run-off occurring in the winter, and little in the summer, with few permanent ravines.[3][5] There are only two permanent effluents in the lake, one to the western crater rim in Barrosa, and the other in the south-southeast.[2][3]

The lake is maintained from mainly, direct precipitation over the caldera and from superficial run-off from the watersheds, where nutrient infiltration is common. The lake's waters support local aquifers in the lowlands and provide potable water to the settlements in the southern flanks of the caldera.[2][3]

Biome

From the west to south, the crater is covered in brush and scrub, while in the east and north (where declives are minor) the vegetation is much denser and covered in some forest. Between the crater wall and lake is a northern margin/beach consisting of sedimentary, with little vegetation.[2][3] Much of the land surrounding the crater is occupied by largely parcels of median 283 hectares (2,830,000 m2) in size, 61 hectares (610,000 m2) of forested production and endemic Macronesian species.[3] Since 2001, the caldera and lake have been part of the Rede Natura network of sites of communitarian interest, for special conservation by European Commission (dated 28 December 2001) and the Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE.[7] There are no human settlements or operations within the crater.[3]

Within the perimeter of the nature reserve, lake and caldera flanks, are many endemic Azorean plant species, including the Azores juniper (Juniperus brevifolia), Azores laurel (Laurus azorica) and buckthorn (Frangula azorica), in addition to St. John's wort (Hypericum foliosum), Azores heather (Erica azorica) and Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia stygiana). Small birds are the primary animal species within the caldera, in addition to some larger birds, such as kites or seagulls; terrestrial birds include the Azores wood pigeon (Columba palumbus azorica), Azorean kite (Buteo buteo rothschildi), the grey wagtail (Motocilla cinérea) and the Azorean common blackbird (Turdus merula azorensis), as well as marine birds such as yellow-legged gull (Larus cachinnans atlantis) and the common tern (Sterna hirundo).

References

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Notes
  1. ↑ IGP (2005); DCA/UA (2004); DRA (2004); DROTRH/SRA et al. (2001)
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Santos et al. (1991a)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Ana Ideias (May 2012)
  4. ↑ Pacheco et al. (2010)
  5. 1 2 DROTRH/SRA et al. (2001)
  6. ↑ LNEC (1991)
  7. ↑ DRA (2004); DROTRH/SRA et al. (2001)
Sources
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