Pico das Camarinhas - Ponta da Ferraria

With 40 hectares, this natural monument is located at the west end of the island and features a diversity of geological structures.

In this area stand out the Pico das Camarinhas, the lava delta of Ponta da Ferraria and a small trachytic dome located upstream of Pico das Camarinhas, as well as a great diversity of fauna and flora.

Pico das Camarinhas is the scoria cone that emitted the basaltic lava flows that reached the old sea-cliff and spread at its base, forming the Ponta da Ferraria lava delta about 900 years ago. The old coastline was preserved in the form of a fossil cliff (about 100 metres high) and, at the lava flow of Ferraria, it is possible to observe several xenoliths, i.e. fragments of rocks formed a few kilometres deep and brought to the surface within the rising magma.

Further south of the lava delta, there is a small natural pool in which seawater is heated by a thermal spring, reaching temperatures of around 40 °C next to the rock by the spring and at the time of low tide. The thermal water of Ferraria, composed of sodium chlorinated (as a result of thermal water mixed with salt water), rises at sea level with temperatures of around 60 °C.

This natural monument is an important nesting area of the Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) and the Barolo Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri baroli).

Associated with the Azorean Heather (Erica azorica) and the Firetree (Morella faya), it is possible to find some endemic insects such as the moths Ascotis fortunata azorica and Cyclophora azorensis, the Small Ermine Moth (Argyresthia atlanticella) and the Cixius insularis that only exists on São Miguel. In terms of marine invertebrates, the Small Periwinkle (Melarhaphe neritoides) and the Littorina striata are noteworthy. In the hot water springs, there is a great diversity of extremophile microorganisms, such as some bacteria.

Regarding the Azorean natural flora stand out the presence of Morella faya, the Erica azorica), the Festuca petraea and the Myrsine retusa. In terms of aquatic vegetation, it can be seen the following species of algae: Enteromorpha linza, Ulva rigida, Fucus spiralis, Corallina officinalis, among others.

This area, located between two Protected Areas for the Management of Habitats or Species, constitutes a geosite of the Azores UNESCO Global Geopark, is part of an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) of the BirdLife International organization and its adjacent marine zone is a Protected Area of Resources Management.

Classifications: