Lagoa do Caiado is the largest lake on Pico Island, Azores. The high-altitude lake is located on the Achada Plateau, an extensive volcanic mountain range covering most of the central area of the island. The waters are clear and are used for public supply since 1993.[1]
| Lagoa do Caiado | |
|---|---|
The lagoon on a clear day | |
Lagoa do Caiado | |
| Location | São Roque do Pico, Pico Island, Azores, Portugal |
| Coordinates | 38°27′23″N 28°15′02″W / 38.45639°N 28.25056°W |
| Catchment area | 0.188 km2 (0.073 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | (Azores) |
| Max. length | 310 m (1,020 ft) |
| Max. width | 245 m (804 ft) |
| Surface area | 0.055 km2 (0.021 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 821.8 m (2,696 ft) |
| References | [1] |
Sitting at around 822 m (2,697 ft) in altitude, in a cinder cone dominated landscape, the area around the lake is densely vegetated due to the extreme humidity it gets (around 4,698 mm (185.0 in) of precipitation each year).[2] Unlike the rest of the Azores, which have been subject to introduction of exotic species, most of the plant-life around the lake is endemic to the archipelago (Juniperus brevifolia, Picconia azorica, Erica azorica, Vaccinium cylindraceum). It is one of the best spots for birdwatching in the island, most commonly found are the Eurasian woodcock, the common snipe, the Eurasian teal, the grey heron, the wagtails and the Azores chaffinch.[1][3]
The lake is located within the Partial Natural Forest Reserve of Lagoa do Caiado; the Special Conservation Zone of Mount Pico, Prainha and Caveiro; the Special Protection Zone of the Central Zone of Pico; and the Geopark of the Achada Plateau.[1]
Climate
edit| Climate data for Lagoa do Caiado, altitude: 750 m (2,460 ft), 1978-2001 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 588.3 (23.16) |
531.6 (20.93) |
365.5 (14.39) |
367.7 (14.48) |
328.7 (12.94) |
245.0 (9.65) |
180.8 (7.12) |
186.3 (7.33) |
286.8 (11.29) |
407.6 (16.05) |
473.8 (18.65) |
679.8 (26.76) |
4,641.9 (182.75) |
| Source: Portuguese Environment Agency[4] | |||||||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Lagoa do Caiado – Ilha do Pico". byAçores (in European Portuguese). 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Atlas Climático Ibérico" (PDF). IPMA, AEMET. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Lagoa do Caiado - São Roque do Pico | Guia para visitar em 2021 - oGuia". www.guiadacidade.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Lagoa do Caiado (06/04M)". APA. Retrieved 4 June 2021.