Category: Nature > Lagoon
District: Açores > Angra do Heroísmo > S. Bartolomeu de Regatos
The Alpanaque Peak Lagoon is located in the parish of São Bartolomeu de Regatos, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira Island, Azores. It is situated on a plateau area, at about 541 meters of altitude, between pasture areas and forest patches that mark the central landscape of the island.
Access is via rural roads that wind through the verdant landscape, where the undulating relief and the presence of dense vegetation create a typical scene of the interior of Terceira. The location is quiet and minimally intervened, offering a natural and serene environment.
This lagoon has a volcanic origin and occupies a small depression in the terrain associated with the Pico do Alpanaque, near the Caldeira Guilherme Moniz. The almost circular shape of the crater highlights its geological formation and reveals a well-preserved example of the interior landscapes of Terceira.
The water surface, of modest dimensions, reflects the sky and the surrounding vegetation, creating an environment of calm and isolation. On the margins, areas of peat and small elevations covered with grasses and mosses, typical of humid high-altitude areas, can be observed.
The Alpanaque Peak Lagoon is surrounded by endemic vegetation of Macaronesia, where species such as heaths, laurel trees (cedros-do-mato), and large ferns predominate. These plants have adapted to the humid and cool climate of the high areas, contributing to the biodiversity characteristic of Azorean native forests.
Throughout the year, the colors of the place vary between the intense green of spring and the soft ochre of autumn, making the environment particularly photogenic and appealing to those who appreciate natural landscapes largely unaltered.
The place conveys a sense of isolation and stillness, with the sound of the wind and birdsong dominating the soundscape. The absence of nearby constructions reinforces the wild character of the lagoon and allows for total immersion in nature.
It is an ideal spot for those seeking to contemplate the most authentic and natural side of Terceira Island, far from the more urbanized areas, and appreciate the balance between geology, water, and vegetation that defines the green heart of the island.
Coordinates DD: 38.721465754441105,-27.220168957759544
Coordinates DMS: 38°43'17.3"N 27°13'12.6"W
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