Natural Heritage
Ilhéu de Monchique – black rock off the west coast, and the most westerly point of Portugal and Europe, it served, in times of celestial navigation, as a reference point to set the routes and check the instruments of navigation. Situated between Europe and the American continent
Rocha dos Bordões – The Rock is located to the thwack of maximum elevation of 460 m. and defines the southern limit of the Site of Community Importance (SCI) of the Central Plateau – Morro Alto. Their inclusion is due to its geological interest, which show the strands of prisms abrutas basalt, giving it unique and unusual beauty of Rock The outcrops of fillers are mainly tranquibasáltica in nature, resulting from the solidification of the basalt columns at high vertical is the ex-libris of the island of Flores.
Fajãs
Sap of the work performed by the sea at the base of cliffs adds to the lack of uniformity in its walls Geologic structure: there are cracks, layers of different rocks, with varying degrees of cohesion among themselves. Sometimes the escarpment slaughter is becoming a platform next to the sea sobrelevada, behind which stands a new escarpment. Thus was born a Fajã. The higher the greater the escarpment Fajã, so the back of sharp islands such as Flores and San Jorge, in offering the most spectacular views of this type of coastal morphology. Protected by cliffs, generating micro-climate situations, and thus the fajãs soon attracted farmers. Through the construction of terraces and walls of support took up most of the land, the sea verdejando thousands, pastures, bananas and potatoes. In some cases set up permanent villages in others, only shelters for tools or for temporary residence. The visible result of human activity is reflected in one of the most beautiful and powerful scenes of the Atlantic Islands.
Volcanic Landscapes