Carpobrotus edulisgrows atop basalt cliffs at Ponta Furada, along the rugged southern coast of Faial near the Freguesia (Civil Parish) of Feteira in the Azores. This invasive ornamental plant escaped cutivation in the late 1800’s. Native to South Africa it likes beach rocks, sand dunes and barren places and grows on all the Azorean Islands. Called Charāo das praias in the Azores, this succulent is also known as hottentot fig in English.
Tags: Portugal Azores Faial Ponta Furada Feteira Freguesia Civil Parish sea cliffs basalt Carpobrotus edulis plant invasive species ornamental plant introduced species Charāo das praias succulent hottentot fig
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Waves have eroded this striking sea arch at Ponta Furada, along the rugged southern coast of Faial near the Freguesia (Civil Parish) of Feteira in the Azores. The coastline is primarily composed of basaltic volcanic rock.
Notably, 'Ponta Furada' translates to 'Pierced Point,' a fitting name for this naturally sculpted arch."
Tags: Portugal Azores Faial Porto Pim Bay sea arch Ponta Furada Feteira Freguesia Civil Parish sea cliffs basalt afternoon Atlantic Ocean
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Waves crash against basalt neat Porto do Alcaide, along the rugged southern coast of Faial in the Freguesia de Angústias in the Azores. Angústias is one of the 3 civil parishes (freguesias) that make up the city of Horta.
Tags: Portugal Azores Faial Porto Pim Bay Ponta Furada Feteira Freguesia Civil Parish rocks basalt moss waves Atlantic Ocean afternoon
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Waves have eroded this striking sea arch at Ponta Furada, along the rugged southern coast of Faial near the Freguesia (Civil Parish) of Feteira in the Azores. The coastline is primarily composed of basaltic volcanic rock. On the horizon, the summit of Pico Volcano is visible though the volcano is partially veiled in clouds. Its highest point, a volcanic cone called Piquinho, rises 70 meters above the central crater. The island of Pico lies 8.3 km (5.2 miles) southeast of Faial. Across the Bay of Porto Pim from the sea arch, Monte da Guia, a tuff cone formed by a submarine eruption, can also be seen.To the left of Monte da Guia, a scoria cone called Monte Queimado rises just above the horizon.
Notably, 'Ponta Furada' translates to 'Pierced Point,' a fitting name for this naturally sculpted arch."
Tags: Portugal Azores Faial Pico Pico Volcano Monte da Guia Porto Pim Bay Piquinho sea arch Ponta Furada Feteira Freguesia Civil Parish sea cliffs basalt tuff cone submarine vulcanism stratovolcano clouds Monte Queimado houses highway afternoon
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In this view from Monte da Guia, the city of Horta stretches from Porto Pim in the foreground and back along Porto Horta (Horta Bay), home to the Marina. Porto Pim’s sheltered bay was where Flemish nobleman Josse van Huerter first landed in 1466, seeking precious metals but instead founding a small community. Due to his ties with the Portuguese court, he was named captain-major of the island.
Near Porto Pim, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Angústias (Church of Our Lady of Anguish) stands on the site of an early hermitage built by van Huerter and his wife, Beatriz de Macedo. The church was rebuilt in 1675, with Beatriz’s remains later transferred to the main altar. It was expanded in 1684 and remodeled between 1800 and 1861.
To the right of Porto Pim is Monte Queimado ("Burnt Mountain"), an 81-meter (265-foot) high scoria cone named for its dark basaltic rocks. It formed as part of the Monte da Guia volcanic complex.
The Horta Marina and Santa Cruz Pier sit alongside the historic Forte de Santa Cruz, a key fortress built between the 15th and 17th centuries. It played a vital roles during the Spanish occupation of 1583 and British invasions led by Sir George Clifford in 1589 and Sir Walter Raleigh in 1597.
Beyond the city, the low ridge on the horizon is Lomba Espalamaga, with Lomba Grande rising further back on the left. The latter reaches 541 meters (1,775 feet) above sea level. These ridges form along the upthrown sides of NW-SE trending faults.
Tags: Portugal Horta Azores Faial Porto Pim Monte da Guia Porto Horta Horta Bay Marina Josse van Huerter Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Angústias: Church of Our Lady of An Monte Queimado Burnt Mountain basaltic rocks scoria cone cinder cone Horta Marina Cais de Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Pier Lomba Espalamaga Lomba Grande Monte das Moças Igreja de Nossa Senhora das Angústias: Church of Our Lady of Anguish normal faults geology
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