Gruta das Torres
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Gruta das Torres | |
|---|---|
 Algar da Ponte |
|
| Location | Criação Velha, Pico Island, Azores |
| Length | 5,150 meters |
| Coordinates | |
| Discovery | 1990 |
| Geology | Lava tube |
| Number of entrances | Many |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Access | Public |
The Gruta das Torres is located outside of Criação Velha, Madalena on the western slopes of Mount Pico. The cave is part of a pahoehoe lava flow which originated from the Cabeço Bravo parasitic cone about 500 to 1500 years ago. It is the longest cave in the Azores at 5,150 meters with heights up to 15 meters.
The Azores Regional Government declared the cave a regional natural monument on March 18, 2004 (Monumento Natural Regional DLR N.° 6/2004/A). The Gruta das Torres is open to the public since 2005. The first 400 meters are accessible to visitors accompanied by a guide.
[edit] References
- Áreas Ambientais dos Açores, Livro da Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar., 2005
[edit] External links
- 11th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, Azores, 2004PDF (1.52 MB)
- Show Caves of the World - Gruta das Torres
|
|||||||
