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Ponta da Bretanha
Protected Area for the Management of Habitats or Species
This area begins at the port of Ponta da Costa to the north stone of the lava delta of the Mosteiros, occupying 77 hectares.
This protected area consists of sea-cliffs formed by several stacked basaltic lava flows alternately with pyroclastic materials. Its slopes are cut by numerous small streams, where we highlight the Loural, Água Nova and Areia. The base of the sea-cliffs is lined with boulders resulting from the dismantling of slopes caused by sea erosion.
In its coastline stand out the Baía da Beira Mar de Cima, the Ponta da Bretanha and the Ponta da Costa. In the sea-cliff overlooking the bay, there is an important collection system of springs of Figueira, Adutora and Moinhos for the water supply to the population of the Mosteiros parish.
The slopes are rich in natural vegetation, dominated by Azorean Coastal Fescue (Festuca petraea), Firetree (Morella faya) e Azorean Heather (Erica azorica), also being possible to observe Azorean Picconia (Picconia azorica) and African Boxwood (Myrsine retusa).
All this sea-cliff is particularly important for nesting of the Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis) and the Barolo Shearwater (Puffinus lherminieri baroli), the reason why is classified as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International organization and as CORINE Biotope.