Santa Maria, geologically the oldest island in the archipelago, has for this very reason vastly distinctive characteristics, perhaps even unique, when compared to the other islands.
The island, formed in a period approximately between 8 to 3 million years, is a truly unique and fascinating territory. Understanding the morphology and wealth of its volcanic materials is essential for us to thoroughly enjoy its landscapes and countless geosites.
Therefore, we start by visiting the House of Fossils – Dalberto Pombo Environmental Interpretation Centre, a museum space that hosts a collection of the naturalist Dalberto Pombo, a pioneer in the study of the island's geological and biological diversity. Here, through numerous pedagogical resources, including a 3D trip, we can learn about the origins of the island of Santa Maria.
We proceed to the Pedreira do Campo, an old quarry carved by submarine basaltic lava flows, from which gravel was extracted, a testimony of the azoreans' adaptability and subsistence, in the exploitation of all available natural resources.
Through a walking trail overlooking the sea, we head on to the Figueiral Cave, former limestone and clay extraction site, for the production of lime and manufacture of tiles, respectively, two additional natural resources of great importance for the economy of Santa Maria island.
After lunch, with our energy levels restored, we head to Barreiro da Piedade (Malbusca), where we can appreciate one of the most striking landscapes of the island and walk over this clay rich soil, marked by its surprisingly intense red color.
We end the visit by the Ribeira do Maloás, a columnar jointing formation originated by a basaltic lava flow, whose hexagonal prisms of remarkable dimensions are reminiscent of the famous “Giant's Causeway", in Ireland. An unforgettable landscape!
