New volcanic cavity discovered on Pico island.
Called “Gruta de Santana”, the new cavity was discovered during electrification works in the municipality of São Roque. It is “further evidence of the geological and biological richness of the archipelago”.
A new volcanic cavity, around 170 meters long and with important geological structures, was discovered on the island of Pico, in the Azores.
The new cavity, designated “Santana Cave”was announced this Friday by the regional secretary for Environment and Climate Action, Alonso Miguel, who visited the site, accompanied by the regional director for Environment and Climate Action, Ana Rodrigues.
The new cavity, discovered following electrification works in the municipality of São Roque, presents “a structurally well-preserved geological heritage, with only small collapses in the walls, in addition to several important geological structures, such as stalactites, gas bubbles, side benches, small overlapping tubes, lava balls e striated walls“, reads what was published by the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM).
The “Gruta de Santana” is around 170 meters long, with a height that varies between 70 centimeters and 5 meters, and a width between two and 5 meters.
Also according to the regional secretary for Environment and Climate Action, “the biological presence of colonies of bacteria, arachnids, roots and bones of small animalsand this set of characteristics highlights the scientific and natural value of the cave, which requires special attention for its preservation.
Cartographic sketch of the cave’s layout
The discovery occurred following electrification work carried out by EDA – Electricity of the Azoresin the Santana area, parish of Santo António, municipality of São Roque do Pico. Subsequently, and “following a contact made by EDA to the Environment and Climate Action Service of Pico Island, a team of technicians and Nature Watchers went to the site”, according to the regional secretary.
Alonso Miguel, cited in the executive’s note, adds that “various information was collected and a cartographic sketch of the cave’s layout was prepared”, to assess the location of the volcanic cavity on the ground and “ensure that the work to be carried out would not cause additional disturbances to this cavity volcanic.”
Due to the location of the access to the cave, on one of the road’s carriageways, EDA built a structure to guarantee “regulated and safe access to the volcanic cavity”, a measure carried out in conjunction with the regional secretariat for Environment and Climate Action.
Natural Monuments in Pico
There are around 340 known natural volcanic cavities in the Azores, but not all of them are visitable or open to the public.
“The island of Pico is, by far, the one with the largest number of caveswith 145 cavities identified, a number that will be updated at the end of this year, with this new discovery”, highlighted Alonso Miguel.
The regional secretary recognized the scientific interest in preserving some of these formations, which led to the classification, in the Azores, of four volcanic cavities as Natural Monumentsnamely Algar do Carvão, in Terceira, Furna do Enxofre, in Graciosa, Gruta das Torres, in Pico, and Gruta do Carvão, in São Miguel.
The governor considered that the discovery of the “Gruta de Santana” constitutes “further evidence of the geological and biological richness of the archipelago, a unique heritage that deserves to be studied, protected and valued”.
