AZORES: Lagoa do Fogo, crater lake - São Miguel Island

Lagoa do Fogo ('Lake of Fire') is a crater lake in the center of the island of São Miguel in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is the highest lake on the island. Governmental regulation does not permit the construction around the lake.

Lagoa do Fogo is one of the largest of the waterbodies in the Azores, and occupies the central caldera of the Água de Pau Massif. The caldera is the youngest volcano on the island of São Miguel, formed approximately 15.000 years ago, resulting from the collapse at the top of the volcano, some 5000 years ago. The last eruption occurred in 1563.

Pico da Barrosa is a viewpoint near Lagoa do Fogo at 947 meters (3,107 feet) above sea level. It is the second highest mountain on São Miguel (the highest is Pico da Vara with 1108 m).

July 7, 2018