São Miguel



Ponta Delgada

This is the biggest city on the Azores and usually the starting point for any visit, since most flights from abroad land here. The background shows the origin of the island chain: Volcanism.

Ponta Delgada


Old Port

No complaints about the solid trail, but we had to walk the gauntlet of breaking waves at the old port of Fenais. We made it.

Santa Iria

Another day and a more peaceful sight.
Fenais Old Port Santa Iria


Flowers

We visited the Azores in September and these were the flowers we saw nearly everywhere.

Flower Flowers


Jungle

The subtropic climate grows a jungle-like forest in those places where it hasn't been cleared.

Tea

Here the forest has been cleared for the only one tea plantation in Europe.
Forest Tea


Povoação

At the end of the valley down on the coast is the small town of Povoação, our basis for São Miguel.

View at Povoacao


Mill

The high precipitation on the Azores delivers enough water to power mills like this one in Povoação.

Ribeira do Purgar

The mouth of this river in Povoação.
Mill in Povoacao Povoacao


Beach

Is it a throne of the Beach King or an assembly of rescue equipment?

Basalt

A dyke of basaltic rock on the beach of Povoação.
Watcher of the beach Volcanic rock


Coast at Povoação

Another look at the small town late in the afternoon.

Coast at Povoacao


Houses

Houses in Moinhos (left) and Nordeste (right).

Moinhos Nordeste


Cascata da Ribera do Limbo

Cascata da Gruta
Cascata da Ribera do Limbo Cascata da Gruta


Poço da Truta

Janela do Inferno
Poco da Truta Janela do Inferno


Furnas

From Pico do Milho, a hill inside the caldera.

Lagoa das Furnas

On the northern shore of the lake are fumaroles and mud-pots.
From Pico do Milho Lagoa das Furnas


Praia dos Moinhos

A good beach such as this is not always granted on volcanic islands.

Praia das Moinhos


Cliffs

Many volcanic islands are of young age and feature rocky cliffs.

Santa Iria

Rocky coasts like the basalt cliffs in this bight.
Cliffs Santa Iria


Lizards

Abundant, but moving extremely fast and hard to photograph.

Lizard Lizard


Grasshopper

Crab
Grashopper Crab


São Miguel

The Igreja Matriz de São Sebastião, built in the 16th century.

Portas da Cidade

A city gate, taken from the former city walls and put into the center as a landmark.
Church Portas da Cidade


Sete Cidades

Another landmark of São Miguel and of the Azores in general is this caldera in the vicinity of Ponta Delgada.

Sete Cidades


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