My Weekly Powerup | #club100 | The blue and the green lake on São Miguel, Azores (Portugal) | #steemexclusive / 22 photos

Last September I visited four of the Azorean islands. We were four ladies traveling together for three weeks with the plan to hike some of the trails found on the islands. The Azores consist of nine islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean. They have such beautiful landscape that invites for hiking. The most impressive and eye-popping place of all I think, is the enormous caldera Sete Cidades, located on the western end of the island. There are lots of walking trails up and down the crater and trails that follows the crater rim. At the bottom there are two crater lakes and the small village of the same name as the crater. Viewpoints on the crater rim gives an absolutelty incredible view of the lakes and this huge crater.

After two days in the capital Ponte Delgada, we drove up north in a rental car. That day was the last sunny day we had during our one week stay on the island. On our way to the next hotel we made a detour to Sete Cidades and the viewpoint Miradouro da Vista do Rei. We did that to make sure we would be able to have a look at the whole crater, because the weather forecast indicated rain and fog for the rest of that week.

We did go hiking, even it was rainy, but at Sete Cidades our plan was to hike along the craterrim. Because of fog it was not possible. It would not be safe either. We then chose to walk along part of the lake shore instead. After parking the car we followed the trail, that I have marked with a black pen on my printed map.

The two lakes are called Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Verde - the blue and the green lake. These names originates from the color of the water. The fact that they have different colors is probably the reason why there is a legend about the lakes. The legend says that once upon the time there was a princess with blue eyes and a shepherd with green eyes, who were in love. But the father of the princess - the king – had forbidden the two to have each other. When they met for the last time, they cried so many tears that they formed a blue and a green lake. The truth about the difference in colors is another story.

Miradouro da Vista do Rei as it looked like the day it was sunny

The way to Miradouro da Boca do Inferno

After returning to the car, we drove up the crater wall to the viewpoint Miradouro da Vista do Rei, but there were no view. We were very happy that we here a few days earlier. As we contiued to the next viewpoint, we had to walk a couple of kilometers to get there. The gate was closed, which meant we could not drive up to start of the trail to the viewpoint Miradouro da Boca do Inferno.

It was getting late in the afternoon,but we reached the point in thick fog. As you can see, we didn't see anything. The map on this board indicates the view if we could have seen it. There is also information about the geological facts about the volcanic eruptions and the creation of the caldera.

Here I am in the fog. Photo taken by Ann-E. Hjemdahl

Even though the fog was thick, it was fairly clear along the seashore and it wasn't raining, so the trip was still a nice experience.

When preparing to hike, this is a good place to check trails and maps: www.trails-azores.com

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U.J

Kristiansand, Norway

All the photoes are mine, Ulla Jensen (flickr, Instagram and facebook)

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