CORVO
The Black Island
The landscape of Corvo is filled with black stone walls that divide properties. The barns, built with basaltic rock, are used to store the tools used in farming and fodder, and they add to the black stain that gave origin to the colour attributed to this island.
The entire island of Corvo corresponds to a main volcanic struture, with a caldera at the top (called Caldeirão) and about twenty secondary volcanic cones on its flanks and inside the caldera. It is thus a "volcano-island", the only one in the archipelago with these features.
The island’s landscape is dominated by green semi-natural pastures and dark stone walls that divide properties. Here and there, one sees barns with basalt walls, used to store the tools used in farming and fodder. The landscape has a reduced forest density, although we do come across Azores heather and Azores juniper (which is locally called zimbro), and there are several orchards with fruit trees, especially on the east side of the island. In the outskirts of Vila do Corvo, the only town on the island, agricultural fields are a common sight.
With the aim of contributing to the socioeconomic development of Corvo and of its people, focusing on the conservation of the island’s environmental and cultural heritage, the Biosphere Reserve of Corvo was established in 2007.
Interactive Trail Map
Caldeirão
Category - Circular
Difficulty - Medium
Extension - 4.8 km
Time average - 2h30m
Evolving in a protected area for the Management of Habitats or Species of Costa and Caldeirão of Corvo, this circular route allows to access a collapse crater, stablish at the top of the central volcano and one of the main geosites of the island. This trail progresses in an altitude between 400 and 560 meters, being advisable to do it in days of good weather and visibility. Along the trail it is normal the presence of bovine, equine and goat cattle that should not be disturbed.
Begin the trail near the viewpoint of Caldeirão and enjoy the view towards the interior of the crater where, according to local culture, the lake and the few volcanic cones reminds a representation of the nine islands of the Azores. The road unwinds into the interior of the crater along the flora dominated by peat moss (Sphagnum sp.). Arriving to a stone of great dimension, choose the road on the right end side to go around the crater (counter clockwise). At this stage of the trail we advise increased attention since the signaling poles are smaller in order to resist the animals.
The interior of the crater is dominated by a system of wetlands and by two lakes, nourished by the rain water and the water accumulated on the thick tuffs of peat moss (peatlands) existing on the slopes turned North. It should be noted that the biggest and oldest peatlands of the country are present on the islands of Corvo and Flores. Along the year the lake level swings and can go up as far as the trail level. Therefore choose the safest way, far from the banks.
The road goes around the lake passing by Poço da Velha and around a swampy area, on the left end side, until reaching again the big stone. At this stage you should go up the crater to the viewpoint where you started the trail. Here there is a connection to other points of the island through the trail PR 01 COR – Vila do Corvo/Cara do Índio/Caldeirão.
Cara do Índio
Category - Linear
Difficulty - Medium
Extension - 10.3 km
Time average - 3h00m
This linear route connects two important geosites, Caldeirão to Vila do Corvo, covering from North to South, one of the least affected islands of the archipelago, by the anthropogenic action. Follow along the asphalted road towards South enjoying the perspective of the island. Arriving to a house, known as the house of the Forestry, choose a dirt alley passing by the stream of Trevo, until reaching a dirt road.
Follow the marks until the artificial water tanks, built between 2002 and 2013, they work as superficial water retention basins to serve the village population. This area known locally as Baldio, serves the local community and is characterized by the absence of cultivated fields and or pastures bordered by natural or dry stone walls, typical from the Azorean landscape. The trail goes around a volcanic cone open to the South, known as geosite of Coroínha and cliff of Pingas. Profit to enjoy the view over the island of Flores and continue until arriving again to cultivated fields and pastures. Proceed downwards among dry stone walls until near the cliff, place where you will find on your right end side a basalt rock that with the erosion has sculpted in what the inhabitants believe is the face of an Indian.
From here the road goes down in a deeper way, through a shortcut flanked by endemic flora such as azorean heather (Erica azorica) and azores juniper (Juniperus brevifolia), passing by old shelters dug on the rock and interesting geological formations. Pass by a viewpoint with view over Vila do Corvo and continue until you arrive to the road. Cross it carefully and proceed by the historical area of the village with focus on the architecture of the houses and the narrow streets determinant during the attack of the pirates, in the 16th and 17th c. At this final stage, near the coast, we can see the traditional windmills. The trail finishes at the beach of Areia, place where you can profit to refresh in the waters of the Atlantic. Visit the Eco Museum, in the center of the village and you will get to know better the heritage of the island.
