Page 296 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

The Azores 273

Figure CS13.1 Pico, the highest mountain of the Azores, Portugal

the island. A flank eruption from Pico in 1718 Dozens of small volcanic cones and craters on the
created lava flows that reached both coasts (Global plateau area at 800 metres are covered by basaltic
Volcanism Program, 2009). The last eruption on slag and are dominated by Pico do Topo with a
the island was in 1963, with a small submarine height of 1007m (Azores.com, 2009b). Car parking
eruption off the north-west coast (Frysinger, space is located on the west side of the mountain
2009). Available data shows that 14 eruptions have at 1200m altitude. A series of secondary craters,
taken place on Pico Island over the last 1000 years called furnas, at an altitude of about 1500m are on
with more than 35 eruptions in the last 2000 the cone of Pico, and people usually spend the
years. Repose times on the Planalto da Achada night when they climb this volcano (Azores.com,
were longer than on Pico volcano with average 2009b). The climb is technically easy but people
repose time for the whole island according to have to be in good shape to climb, because it’s an
recent carbon dating of 130 years (Nunes et al, 1150m high hike. Climbing starts from the
2006). parking area at 1200m and it takes about three-
Pico volcano has been classified a protected and-a-half hours to reach the summit at 2351m.
natural reserve since 1972. It is an interesting Up to around 1500m around the mountain, thick
geologic place and tourists can view the lava fields forests carpet the plateau. Moving higher, the
and black lava rocks around the volcano. To the landscape changes to shrubs, then to lava fields.
east the Planalto da Achada also contains numerous The crater of Pico Alto itself measures about
volcanic cones and crater lakes as well as volcanic 700m across and reaches a depth of 30m. At the
caves and stunning rock formations at Arcos edge of the crater lies the volcanic cone Piquinho
(iknow Portugal, 2009). Pico volcano dominates or Pico Pequeno with fumaroles at its base. At a
this island and many visitors do climb to the crater height of about 70m this small peak constitutes
peak via a guided walking tour or they climb the summit of the mountain (Azores.com,
individually. In winter the peak is covered in snow. 2009b).

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