Congratulations to the Furna do Enxofre Visitors Centre!

April 5, 2022

The Regional Secretariat for the Environment and Climate Change celebrates today the 12th anniversary of the Visitors Centre localized on the Caldeira da Graciosa Natural Monument, Nucleus Zone of the Biosphere Reserve, which formed approximately 12 thousand years ago and represents a very interesting geologic formation with different volcanic formations types.

The Caldeira is the second largest forest area of the island, where it is possible to find endémic species, such as Erica azorica, Laurus azorica and Hypericum foliosum.

The Furna do Enxofre is a monumental cave 194 metres long and 50 metres high on its central part. It has a stunning, perfectly vaulted ceiling, the largest volcanic dome in Europe, covered with small stalactites, and has a lagoon approximately 11 metres deep. This cave presents a fumarolic field constituted by a fumarole with muddy water and dry fumes on the cave's floor.

When visiting this Centre, which in 2021 received approximately 7500 visitors, it is possible to discover and understand the volcanic processes that formed the island, particularly the Furna do Enxofre and Caldeira.

Nine environmental education activities were also carried out last year with 127 participants, having a crucial part in the environmental awareness of this special geological interest area.