Rota da Água

Circular trail, out and back, in the Nasce Água area, right on the outskirts of Angra do Heroísmo. As the name suggests, everything here revolves around water: the water resources of the mountains and the heritage that makes use of them, from ancient mills to the system that supplies the city of Angra do Heroísmo.

The starting point is located next to the ruins of a set of five mills, just part of the more than 40 that once operated along the water channel known as Ribeira dos Moinhos. From here, the path climbs along the southern flank of Serra do Morião, an elevation of 602 metres that marks the southern edge of Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz. Further on, you enter a restricted access area, where you can clearly understand the entire local water cycle: from the masses of humid air that release rain within Caldeira de Guilherme Moniz to the groundwater that emerges again on the outer slope of the volcano, where it is captured, treated and directed for human consumption.

Near the source of Mãe-de-Água stands the first of three mini-hydroelectric plants in Angra, which produces around 1% of all electricity generated on the island. Halfway down the slope of Serra do Morião, you can still see the regulation tank that collects water from the sources of Furna d’Água and Cabrito. The purity of these waters owes much to the natural vegetation around it, heather (Erica azorica), laurel (Laurus azorica) and bilberry (Vaccinium cylindraceum), among other species that help retain and infiltrate water into the soil, filter particles and maintain the balance of water resources.

Also notable in this section is the Cruzeiro da Serra da Costaneira, an imposing structure with the inscription “outside Christian protection there can be no true progress”, which reflects the strong religiosity of its builder, Eng. José Luís Abecassis. At the top of Serra do Morião, in the final part of the route, wide views open up over Angra, Monte Brasil and the entire southern coast of the island. The return is made by the same path as the ascent, with only a small variation halfway.

As the ground can become slippery, it is advisable to take extra care after rainy days and wear appropriate footwear.