Pico da Vara
| Pico da Vara | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,103 m (3,619 ft) |
| Coordinates | 37°47′34.67″N 25°13′23.65″W / 37.7929639°N 25.2232361°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal |
Pico da Vara is the highest mountain on the island of São Miguel, in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, and principal special protection of the Nature Reserve of Pico da Vara. The area around the mountain includes the largest remaining stand of the native laurisilva forest on the island, home to the critically endangered endemic Azores bullfinch.
It lies in the eastern part of the island, in the Serra da Tronqueira range, within the confluence of the municipalities of Nordeste and Povoação.
The nature reserve begins a dirt road, that connects the region to the plateau of the Graminhais to Pico da Vara, in an area that the road intersects para of the Ribeira do Purgar. The border inflects towards the northwest , passing to an area 947 metres (3,107 ft), until the 900 metres (3,000 ft) isoline, then continues to the east until the pedestrian trail from Malhada, where it heads north to Grota Escura. From this grottoe is descends until the Ribeira do Guilherme, inflecting to the south to another grottoe that separates the spikes of Francisco Pires e dos Bodes, until the roadway of Tronqueira. The border continues to the north until Serreta, descending later to the west again, until the roadway once again, following it until the crossroad of Grotinha do Pico Verde. Continuing on the valley west until the 775 metres (2,543 ft) isoline, it ascends until the 800 metres (2,600 ft) elevation until the ravine west of Pico Verde. The frontier descends the ravine until the 700 metres (2,300 ft) elevation, following a northerly trajectory terminating at the the afluente of the Ribeira do Purgar.
Situated in the eastern part of the island of São Miguel, its relief is characteristically mountainous, cut by valleys that are fed by perennial and permanent ravines.
Access to this area and the mountain requires a special permit. This authorisation can be obtained through an online application form.
Pico da Vara is part of the Natura 2000 reserve, classified under the Birds Directive, as a special protection zone that includes 1982 hectares of rich botanical and notable landscape environments. The region is primarily part of the Nature Reserve of Pico da Vara, an area that not includes the peak by the partial reserve of Graminhais, classified in 1988.
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Wikipedia