The island of Graciosa, also known as the “White Island”, is one of the northernmost islands of the Azores Archipelago, together with the island of Flores and the island of Corvo. It is part of the five islands that make up the central group of the Azores, along with Terceira, Pico, Faial and São Jorge. It is also one of the islands classified by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Along with a vast array of natural beauties that the island has to offer, it is there that you can find Furna do Enxofre – one of the most beautiful monuments created by nature and which demonstrates the volcanic origin of the Azores in its fullness. Have you seen the film called “Journey to the Center of the Earth”? The Sulphur Hole is exactly that, only without fiction.
It was explored in the 19th century by some illustrious figures, such as Prince Albert of Monaco and some naturalists, Fouqué and Hartung. Its origin is associated with an intracaldera effusive phase, considered similar to some of the volcanic phenomena that are at the origin of Hawaii.
This furnace is located in the Natural Monument of the Graciosa Caldera, in the southeast part of the same Caldera. It is a volcano-speleological phenomenon of great interest with a large lava cavity. This cavity presents a ceiling in a perfect vault, with about 50 meters in its central part. Besides that, one of the things that makes this place unique is its entrance. The access to the interior of Furna do Enxofre is made through a tower built in 1939, with about 37 meters high and a snail staircase of 183 steps – worth the effort. This ex-libris of Graciosa, and one of the Azores, has a cold water lake and a fumarole with mud, from where sulphurous gases emanate.
You can also visit the Furna do Enxofre Visitors Center – CVFE-, which functions as a nucleus of the Biosphere Reserve and the Graciosa Natural Park. On the other hand, it is one of the entrances to the furnace.
Here, you will have a better understanding of this volcanic phenomenon and also of the volcanic processes that gave rise to the very island where this natural monument is located.
This centre is composed of two floors. On the lower floor, there will be an exhibition area, and on the upper floor, there will be the reception area, the reserved area for dissemination, awareness and observation/entry of the landscape. It should be noted that this building safeguards environmental quality, geodiversity values, biodiversity and landscape/architectural balance.
For more information, consult the CVFE website. There, you will have all the information regarding schedules, guided tours and contacts.