Miradouro Salto do Cavalo, Salga – Nordeste

It is called Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo and is located in Salga, in the Municipality of Nordeste, São Miguel Island. It offers a privileged view of the Furnas Valley as well as the southern and northern coasts of the island.

At about 760 meters above sea level, you can observe the Povoação Valley and its seven hills, the fantastic Lagoa das Furnas, and the entire Furnas Valley, as well as the island’s southern and northern coasts. You can also appreciate the Laurissilva forest present in the area.

Miradouro do Salto do Cavalo

With its main highlight being the view over the Furnas Valley, you can also find detailed information on the Caldeiras das Furnas (Protected Landscape Area of Furnas):

This area covers approximately 3,150 hectares, located within the caldera of the Furnas volcano. The central volcano of Furnas, formed by numerous eruptions interspersed with periods of calm over the last 800,000 years, features a large elliptical depression at the top – the Caldeira das Furnas – with maximum and minimum diameters of 8 and 5.6 kilometers, respectively.

This geopark landscape and geosite of the Azores Geopark – UNESCO Global Geopark, encompasses significant geodiversity, prominently featuring the Lagoa das Furnas (approximately 200 hectares in surface area), cinder cones, tuff rings, and trachytic domes (like those at Pico do Ferro), fumarolic fields, and a large number and variety of springs, mineral, and thermal waters – the so-called “hydropolis” of Furnas.

The thermal baths, the use of volcanic mud, and the utilization of mineral waters are examples of local geocultural manifestations, with the most emblematic element being the “Cozido das Furnas“, a culinary dish cooked in pits for 5 to 6 hours in the hot ground of the volcano.

The plant communities include exotic and invasive species – particularly in botanical gardens – and in less accessible areas, endemic species such as holly and bay laurel, which, like other endemic and native species, have been reintroduced in this protected area as part of ecological restoration actions for this lagoon.

On the southern shore of the lagoon is the Monitoring and Research Center of Furnas, which provides relevant information about the history of Furnas, this geosite, and the recovery plan for its water body.

How to Get There

The viewpoint is located in Salga, in the municipality of Nordeste. Access can be made from the northern side of the island, where you will easily find signs to the viewpoint in the center of the parish. From the southern access, after leaving Furnas and heading north on the island, you will find a detour signposted for Salto do Cavalo / Secondary Road access to Salga.

Location on the Map

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