It is located in the parish of Norte Grande, Municipality of Velas, São Jorge Island, Azores Archipelago, Portugal
Gruta do Carvão is a geological formation of Portuguese volcanic origin located in the municipality of Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island, Azores.
More specifically, the cave is a lava tube and a Natural Monument with 1912 meters and consists of 4 sections (Paim, Secadores de Tobacco, João do Rego and José Bensaúde), with only the Paim section being open to the public for visitation.
Gruta do Carvão is located in the western part of the city of Ponta Delgada and is approximately 2500 meters long, divided into three main cavities and intermediate collapsed and obstructed areas that physically separate these cavities, not allowing access to the entirety of the primitive lava tunnel.
Currently, an extension of 1912.1 meters of the lava tube has been recognized and mapped, which includes a section to the North (“Troço do Paim”), an intermediate section (“Tobacco Dryers Section”), a section to the South (“Rua João do Rego Section”) and on Rua José Bensaúde, with approximately 42.7 meters (“Rua José Bensaúde Section”).
Geologically, Gruta do Carvão is part of the Picos Volcanic Complex, and this area has around 250 cones of basaltic slag, and associated lava flows of a basaltic nature.
Gruta do Carvão develops in an extensive basaltic flow with a general North-South flow that reached the sea in the western part of the city of Ponta Delgada and whose emission center will most likely be located in the Serra Gorda – Arribanas area, in the parish of Arrifes.
The age of this cave will be between 5,000 and 12,000 years, given that radiometric dating (14C) carried out by Geochron Laboratories on carbonized plant material collected (in the area of Escola Primária do Carvão) in paleosol under the lava flow of Gruta do Carvão, and provided ages of 11,880 BP (± 80) and 12,100 BP (± 140) years.
Despite not having endemic cave fauna, Gruta do Carvão has biological communities adapted to the particular conditions of these structures, namely the lack of light and high relative humidity.
The following species are part of the fauna in this cavity: Chthonius ischnocheles, Eidmanella pallida, Lathys dentichellis, Pholcus phalangioides and Steatoda grosso.
The classification of Gruta do Carvão as a Natural Monument through Regional Legislative Decree No. 4/2005/A, of May 11th, contributed to its protection and preservation, regulating its use, as well as defining administrative offense processes relating to environmental damage to its natural heritage.
More specifically, the cave is a lava tube and a Natural Monument with 1912 meters and consists of 4 sections (Paim, Secadores de Tobacco, João do Rego and José Bensaúde), with only the Paim section being open to the public for visitation.
Gruta do Carvão is located in the western part of the city of Ponta Delgada and is approximately 2500 meters long, divided into three main cavities and intermediate collapsed and obstructed areas that physically separate these cavities, not allowing access to the entirety of the primitive lava tunnel.
Currently, an extension of 1912.1 meters of the lava tube has been recognized and mapped, which includes a section to the North (“Troço do Paim”), an intermediate section (“Tobacco Dryers Section”), a section to the South (“Rua João do Rego Section”) and on Rua José Bensaúde, with approximately 42.7 meters (“Rua José Bensaúde Section”).
Geologically, Gruta do Carvão is part of the Picos Volcanic Complex, and this area has around 250 cones of basaltic slag, and associated lava flows of a basaltic nature.
Gruta do Carvão develops in an extensive basaltic flow with a general North-South flow that reached the sea in the western part of the city of Ponta Delgada and whose emission center will most likely be located in the Serra Gorda – Arribanas area, in the parish of Arrifes.
The age of this cave will be between 5,000 and 12,000 years, given that radiometric dating (14C) carried out by Geochron Laboratories on carbonized plant material collected (in the area of Escola Primária do Carvão) in paleosol under the lava flow of Gruta do Carvão, and provided ages of 11,880 BP (± 80) and 12,100 BP (± 140) years.
Despite not having endemic cave fauna, Gruta do Carvão has biological communities adapted to the particular conditions of these structures, namely the lack of light and high relative humidity.
The following species are part of the fauna in this cavity: Chthonius ischnocheles, Eidmanella pallida, Lathys dentichellis, Pholcus phalangioides and Steatoda grosso.
The classification of Gruta do Carvão as a Natural Monument through Regional Legislative Decree No. 4/2005/A, of May 11th, contributed to its protection and preservation, regulating its use, as well as defining administrative offense processes relating to environmental damage to its natural heritage.
