Fortunate Isles
Fortunate Isles, a name inherited from Greek mythology to convey a set of paradisiac islands in the Atlantic Ocean where heroes and gods would rest. Açores, Madeira, Canárias and Cabo Verde are sometimes identified as the possible locations of the Fortunate Isles.
Common to these four archipelagos is the the volcanic origin of their comprising islands. Some islands still display pockets of laurissilva forests, a type of ancient cloud forest that originally covered much of the Mediterranean basin and northwestern Africa before the cooling and drying of the ice ages. Currently, in the European part of the Macaronesia (Açores, Madeira and Canary Archipelagos), around 5000 km? of land and sea are protected under the Natura 2000 regulations.
This first chapter focuses on the natural heritage of the Portuguese archipelagos of Açores and Madeira.
Natural pond near Capelinhos volcano. Faial, Azores, Portugal
Capelinhos volcano cliffs. Faial, Azores, Portugal
Faial caldera. Azores, Portugal
Faial caldera cliff. Azores, Portugal
Sunrise at Praia do Almoxarife with a view over Pico. Faial, Azores, Portugal
Sunset at Lagoa do Peixinho. Pico, Azores, Portugal
Endemic azorean vegetation against Pico mountain at dusk. Pico, Azores, Portugal
Azores Juniper at night in Lagoa do Capitão. Pico, Azores, Portugal
Azores Juniper trunk at Paúl lagoon. Pico, Azores, Portugal
Seismograph house at Paúl lagoon. Pico, Azores, Portugal
Cow grazing Corvo. Azores, Portugal
Corvo Caldera. Azores, Portugal
Island of trees reflected inside Corvo Caldera. Azores, Portugal
Cloudy sunset over Flores west coast. Azores, Portugal
Ribeira grande waterfall. Flores, Azores, Portugal
Poço da Alagoinha reflection. Flores, Azores, Portugal
Edge of Ribeira do Além. Flores, Azores, Portugal
Pico da Sé. Flores, Azores, Portugal
Algar do Carvão volcanic chimney entrance. Terceira, Azores, Portugal
Madeira, Portugal - 11 June 2017: Laurissilva forest among fog along Levada of Caldeirão Verde
Madeira, Portugal - 12 June 2017: Fog among the Laurissilva forest of Pináculo and Folhadal
Madeira, Portugal - 12 June 2017: Leaving a tunnel at Pináculo and Folhadal trek
Madeira, Portugal - 12 June 2017: Hill covered with fog along Pináculo and Folhadal trek
Madeira, Portugal - 13 June 2017: Texture of a canyon of Madeira
Madeira, Portugal - 15 June 2017: Peak surrounded by clouds
Madeira, Portugal - 15 June 2017: The peaks of Madeira seen from Pico do Areeiro
São Miguel, Açores, Portugal - 24 April 2018: Lagoa do Fogo
São Miguel, Açores, Portugal - 27 April 2018: April 2018: Edge of Lagoa das Sete Cidades
Pico, Portugal - 04 August 2021 : Entrance of Gruta das Torres lava cave
