Lagoa das Sete Cidades, Volcanic crater lake in São Miguel, Portugal
The Lagoa das Sete Cidades contains two connected lakes within a volcanic caldera, with one displaying blue waters and the other green waters.
The formation of this volcanic crater began over 210,000 years ago through multiple eruptions that created a caldera spanning three miles across.
Local narratives tell of a princess and shepherd whose forbidden relationship led to tears that formed two lakes of different colors.
Visitors can access several viewpoints around the crater rim via hiking trails, offering opportunities to observe both lakes from different angles.
The lake system features distinct hydrochemical properties that create numerous springs and water networks throughout the volcanic structure.
Location: Azores
Elevation above the sea: 259 m
GPS coordinates: 37.85528,-25.78639
Latest update: May 27, 2025 13:27
Portugal extends well beyond its main tourist centers. Away from the established routes lie medieval villages like Monsanto, where granite houses wedge themselves between massive boulders, or the fortified hilltop town of Marvão overlooking the Spanish border. Peneda-Gerês National Park spreads across forests, rivers and centuries-old settlements connected by hiking trails. The coastline varies considerably: Cabo Espichel with its cliffs and remote pilgrimage site, the rock formations at Ponta da Piedade near Lagos, the striped wooden houses of Costa Nova facing the ocean. The Azores offer crater lakes such as Lagoa das Sete Cidades, volcanic caves like Gruta das Torres and thermal springs at Caldeira Velha. Madeira presents the coastal village of Paul do Mar and the plateau of Fajã dos Padres, accessible only by cable car. The list includes religious structures such as Alcobaça Monastery, the bone chapel in Évora and Convento dos Capuchos in the forests near Sintra. Historic fortifications like Almourol Castle on a Tagus island or the fortress at Sagres on the continent's southwestern tip complete the picture.
Explore the most notable freshwater areas of Portugal, from natural lakes to artificial reservoirs, located on the mainland and the Azores islands. This collection presents a variety of sites offering swimming, water sports, and birdwatching, from the mountains of the North to the Alentejo regions, including the volcanic formations of the Azores.
Miradouro da Vista do Rei
1.9 km
Ponta da Ferraria
5.8 km
Boca do Inferno Viewpoint
2.4 km
Church of the Jesuit College
16.1 km
Conceição Palace
16.3 km
Santo António
7.3 km
Recreational Forest Reserve of Pinhal da Paz
15 km
Jardim José do Canto
15.7 km
Zona de Paisagem Protegida das Sete Cidades
371 m
Ponta da Ferraria Lighthouse
5.6 km
Santa Clara Lighthouse
16.2 km
Jewish cemetery of Ponta Delgada
16.1 km
Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição
16.3 km
Monumento Natural Regional do Pico das Camarinhas e Ponta da Ferraria
5.6 km
Church of Santo António
7.3 km
Miradouro do Pico do Paul
4.7 km
Hotel Monte Palace
1.9 km
Batalha Golf Course
14.7 km
Caldeira do Alferes
1.7 km
Caldeira Seca
1.3 km
Solar dos Condes de Albuquerque, Rua do Contador, 2-10
16.2 km
Solar de São Joaquim, Rua São Joaquim, 12
15.7 km
Solar de Santa Catarina, Rua Direita de Santa Catarina
15.8 km
Moinho de vento do Pico do Cavalo
5.1 km
Prédio anexo à Igreja do Colégio, Largo do Colégio
16.1 km
Igreja e convento de Santo André
16.3 km
Solar Scholtze/Berquós, Rua José do Canto, 9
15.6 km
Prédio na Rua Dr. Guilherme Poças, 14
16.2 kmReviews
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