The Capelinhos volcano is one of the greatest touristic attractions in the Azores. Indeed, it is one of the major touristic features found anywhere in the Atlantic. It is unique on three counts: firstly, it is a volcanic structure which has produced a strikingly beautiful landscape; secondly the volcano is located on an island, Faial, which is easy to travel to; and lastly, visitors can spend a day or tow in close contact (from sea and land)with very recently created and nearly virgin land. The Capelinhos volcano is located in the far west of Faial island and was formed by the accumulation of practically continuous volcanic outpourings over a 13 month period of volcanic activity (such a prolonged spell of volcanic activity is itself unusual in island volcanology). The landscape we see today is the result of two major and separate phases: between September 1957 and May 1958, submarine volcanic activity predominated (coarse and fine ash, volcanic bombs, rock blocks, etc.), although there was some terrestrial activity from time to time; between May and October 1958, the predominant volcanic products were terrestrial (or sub-aerial) ones, essentially comprising pumice, bombs and sticky materials connected with streams ofbasalt lava (molten rock). 
On the night of 12 May, Faial island was shaken by very strong seismic tremors. Inside the major central caldera there were explosions of muddy ash and at the Capelinhos volcano a lava lake, of the type seen in Hawaii, appeared. This only lasted a short time, however, and was followed by a long period when terrestrial products were formed (thousands of cubic meters of basaltic lava at a temperature of about 1100ºC).This activity continued until 24 October 1958 when the Capelinhos volcano became dormant. Although the seismic and volcanic events in those years of 1957-58 were extremely violent, no lives were lost. Thousands of the inhabitants of Faial emigrated to the USA in search of a better life. In the intervening years, waters of the ocean have attacked the newly formed rock and we see a new phase in the life of the Capelinhos volcano - the explosion of life forms: submarine fauna and flora have appeared, the first land plants have taken a footholdand the birds have moved into the valleys and crags.The Capelinhos volcano is one of the greatest touristic attractions in the Azores, indeed, it is one of the major touristic feature found anywhere in the Atlantic. It is unique on three counts: firstly, it is a volcanic structure which has produced a strickingly beautiful landscape; secondly the volcano is located on an island, Faial, which is easy to travel to; and lastly, visitors can spend a day or tow in close contact (from sea and land) with very recently created and nearly virgin land. To log this cache please take a picture of yourself in front of the volcano or the lighthouse. Also provide the following answers, in the published coordinates: 1) what is the color of the basalt?
a - black; b - brown; c - gray 2) what is it's consistency?
a - hard rock; b - sandy like 3) In the back of the lighthouse how many windows are bellow ground?
a - 1; b - 2; c - 3; d - 4 4) what is the height above ground of the interpretation center?
a - 5m (above ground); b - 0m; c - neg. 5m (bellow ground) |