Miradouro do Pico do

Marty and I enjoyed driving around Sao Miguel Island. Though it is a relatively small island, traveling from one end to the other brings constant change of scenery, lush green hills, dramatic coastlines, and something quite different.

The island itself was formed by volcanic activity, built up over time from eruptions beneath the ocean. In many places, that history feels distant, hidden in the greenery. But in the Fumas Valley, it becomes unmistakable. Here, the volcanic nature of the island is right in front of you, steam rising from the earth, bubbling pools scattered across the landscape, a quiet reminder that the island is still active below the surface 

We made our way to the Miradouro do Pico do Ferro, a viewpoint that looks over the entire valley. From there the lake sits quietly below, surrounded by green hills, whole thin streams of steam rise in different places across the basin.  

Standing there, looking across Furnas, it was easy to appreciate how much variety such a small island can hold. This beautiful valley tells the story of how this island was formed and how it continues to change.