The rock needle
Above the forest.
Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ji-Elle — CC BY-SA 4.0
Pico Cão Grande, Portuguese for «Great Dog Peak», is a needle-shaped volcanic plug in the south of São Tomé Island, inside Obô Natural Park. It rises to 663 metres above sea level and about 370 metres above the surrounding land. It is the country's best-known natural landmark, like a rock tower in the middle of the forest. The plug formed from magma that hardened inside the vent of an active volcano before the softer rock around it wore away. It dates back about three and a half million years, as part of the volcanic Cameroon Line. It is mostly phonolite. High humidity and moss on the rock make climbing very hard. From afar you see a towering grey rock needle rising above thick green rainforest, with a smaller peak beside it called Cão Pequeno. Clouds and mist often wrap around it. From the sea the two peaks look like dark shapes above the mountainous coast. The nearest village is Vila Clotilde, 3 km to the east, and São João dos Angolares is about 8 km away. The landmark is well seen from the road, and you can walk to its base with a guide. Climbing is for experts only.
Above the forest.
The smaller peak.
Around the top.
Obô Natural Park, southern São Tomé Island
Climbing is very hard and for experts only, but you can walk to its base.
From the southern coastal road, or from the sea.