Lagoa do Fogo

About this place

Lagoa do Fogo is a crater lake within the Água de Pau Massif volcano in the centre of São Miguel island in Portugal's Azores archipelago, about 18 km east of Ponta Delgada in a straight line. Its name means Lake of Fire, and it is the highest lake on the island. The lake fills the central caldera of the island's youngest volcano, which formed about 15,000 years ago; the summit collapsed some 5,000 years ago, and the last eruption was in 1563. It has been protected since 1974 as a nature reserve where no building is allowed around the lake, and it is now part of the São Miguel Nature Park. The lake's surface lies 575 metres above sea level, and the crater rim around it rises to Pico da Barrosa at about 949 metres. Steep slopes covered in thick green vegetation drop to the blue water, white sand spits reach into the lake, and clouds often drift across the crater. Most visitors stop at the viewpoints on the road above the rim to look down on the lake, and some follow a walking trail down to the sandy shore at the water's edge. Fog often fills the crater and the weather changes quickly, so aim for a clear day and check conditions before driving up.