The 7 Cidades Island

It is assumed that the volcanic massif of 7 Cidades may have constituted an island, perfectly individual. The union of this volcanic massif with the neighboring Lagoa do Fogo massif (Água de Pau massif) was achieved as a result of basaltic volcanism in the Picos Region, an area of small volcanoes between these 2 large massifs.

The Lagoa das 7 Cidades, located at the western end of the island of São Miguel, is today one of the biggest tourist emblems in the Azores. In 2010, it was considered one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal.

The “Lagoa das 7 Cidades” is a caldera of the volcano das 7 Cidades, which is active and is probably the volcanic system with the highest eruptive frequency in the last 5000 years, in the Azores., constituting one of the largest slaughter boilers in the world.

There are 4 lagoons in the “Lagoa das 7 Cidades”. The green lagoon and blue lagoon (the color comes from the algae in the water) are separated by a bridge that gives access to the town, with which the Legend of the 7 Cities is associated. The remaining lagoons are Lagoa Rasa and Lagoa de Santiago.