The Azores

Volcanic Origins of São Miguel Island

Day 8: Monday, April 18, 2005
As seen from the windows of a tour bus.

They are mining the rich lava rock to use as fertilizer at these sites.

The verdent green hills attest to the fact that these fertile volcanic soils will grow anything.

Although the foreground is a bit confused because it was so close to the moving bus when the picture was snapped, I believe you can see the cut in the land in the middle distance, and the beautiful green hills and trees in the distance.

These pictures are of a geothermal energy plant.

The whole island now uses geothermal energy. They no longer use fossil fuels to generate electricity. Although we know it's not that simple, it seems that they can simply stick a pipe in the ground and get heat sufficient to generate electricity.

Click any image above to go to the next page, or use the navigation buttons below.