Gruta das Torres
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Coordinates: 38°29′39.48″N, 28°30′8.64″W

Gruta das Torres
Algar da Ponte
Location	Criação Velha, Pico Island, Azores
Length	5,150 meters
Coordinates	38°29′39.48″N, 28°30′8.64″W
Discovery	1990
Geology	Lava tube
Number of entrances	Many
Difficulty	Easy
Access	Public

The Gruta das Torres is located outside of Criação Velha, Madalena on the western slopes of Mount Pico. The cave is part of a pahoehoe lava flow which originated from the Cabeço Bravo parasitic cone about 500 to 1500 years ago. It is the longest cave in the Azores at 5,150 meters with heights up to 15 meters.

The Azores Regional Government declared the cave a regional natural monument on March 18, 2004 (Monumento Natural Regional DLR N.° 6/2004/A). The Gruta das Torres is open to the public since 2005. The first 400 meters are accessible to visitors accompanied by a guide.

References

• Áreas Ambientais dos Açores, Livro da Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e do Mar., 2005

External links

• 11th International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology, Azores, 2004PDF (1.52 MB)
• Show Caves of the World - Gruta das Torres

v • d • e Azores Islands (Arquipélago dos Açores) Eastern Santa Maria · São Miguel Central Terceira · Graciosa · São Jorge · Pico · Faial Western Flores · Corvo Islets Formigas · Vila Franca · Sabrina · Mosteiros · Cabras · Fradinhos · Topo · Rosais · Praia · Baixo · Madalena · Monchique Caves Gruta das Torres · Algar do Carvão Reefs, banks and seamounts Dollabarat · Princess Alice Bank · Dom João de Castro Bank · Hydrothermal vents of the Azores