Biodiversity

Due to its geological age and big dimension, São Miguel Island stands out as one of the richer islands with endemic species.

About fauna highlights to the Pyrrhula murina, one of the rarest passerines of Europe, with geographical distribution restricted to the counties of Nordeste and Povoação, and the Thalassophilus azoricus that only exists in Gruta de Água de Pau (cave).

It has four classified areas in the Natura 2000 network and three Ramsar Sites.