Furnas is a parish in the district of Povoação in the Azores. The population in 2001 is 1,541, its density is 45.5/km² and the area is 33.88 km²/3,388 ha. The parish is one of the largest in the island and in the Azores. It is located E of Lagoa and Ponta Delgada, west of downtown and SE of Ribeira Grande. The main industry are agriculture and tourism. It is connected with a road linking Ponta Delgada and the municipal seat and NW to Ribeira Grande. The Atlantic Ocean is to the south. The mountains are to the north with several valleys including one to the norht-northwest. Most of the mountains are forestes while grasslands are founded in higher elevations.

Nearest parishes

• Água de Alto, W
• Ribeira Quente, E

Geography

• Location:
  • Latitude: 37.7667 (37°'46) N
  • Longitude: 25.31667 (25°19') W
• Altitude:
  • Lowest: Atlantic Ocean
  • Centre: 303 m (997 ft)
  • Lagoa das Furnas: 359 m (1,181 ft)
  • highest: 805 m (2,641 ft)

Features

Furnas is a stratovolcano and are made up ot two caldeiras which dates back to approximately 30,000 years ago. The second approximately dates back to 20,000 years ago. The volcanoes are very active which 10 sub-Plinian eruptions occurred in the past 5,000 years. Two of them are historically known. The first known eruption was in 1440 in which the first colonists settled the island. The second was in 1630 and caused 200 deaths. The volcano vas particularly studied between 1990 and 2000 which took account of represengint many geological risks.

Furnas is also famous for its springs and geysers. The area is known for its spectacular volcanic eruptions in the area's history.

In Lagoa da Furnas, the fumerolles and mud sands are located at the northern part of the lake. The local delicacy of Furnas is Cozido , a chicken beef stew.

In the village, the area around Furnas has thirty springs, each of them has different tempreature and chemical composition.

A hot river which is colored by iron and a cold river which flows through the village.

The geysers are situated in several basins which produce water that is rich in sodium bicarbonate, boron, fluorine and outbursts of carbon dioxide. The local inhabitants cook sever corn-type dishes in the geysers.

The installations of hydrotherapy are in the park and were arranged in the 19th century.

Other

Furnas has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasia, a church and a square (praça).

External links

• Map and aerial photos (Furnas)
  • Street map from Mapquest
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver
• Map and aerial photos (Laoga das Furnas)
  • Street map from Mapquest
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver

Sources