Lagoa do Fogo

Since 1974, the Lagoa do Fogo had been under the administration of national legislation as a protected area, forming the Reserva da Lagoa do Fogo (Natural Reserve of Lagoa do Fogo) an area that includes approximately , founded by Decree-law 152/74 (15 April 1974). It was also covered under a supplementary Decree-Law 9/79. The Reserva Natural da Lagoa do Fogo was created in 1982, under terms of Regional Decree 10/82/A on 18 June 1982. Part of the area was included in the Natura 2000 network, and classified as the Site of Communitarian Importance of Lagoa do Fogo. ==Geography==

Lagoa do Fogo is one of the largest of the waterbodies in the Azores, and occupies the central caldera of the Água de Pau Massif, in the central area of the island of São Miguel. It is part of the hydrological watershed of the same name. The margins of the lake are located above sea level, although the crater rim, which extends to Pico da Barrosa is located at approximately altitude. The carved relief affects the course of hydrographic run-off, which is accentuated by torrential precipitation in the region, resulting in accentuated erosion and deposition along the margins. A majority of the watercourses are temporary or torrential, with the greatest run-off occurring in the winter, and little in the summer, with few permanent ravines. There are no human settlements or operations within the crater. Within the perimeter of the nature reserve, lake and caldera flanks, are many endemic Azorean plant species, including the Azores juniper (Juniperus brevifolia), Azores laurel (Laurus azorica) and buckthorn (Frangula azorica), in addition to St. John's wort (Hypericum foliosum), Azores heather (Erica azorica) and Mediterranean spurge (Euphorbia stygiana). Small birds are the primary animal species within the caldera, in addition to some larger birds, such as kites or seagulls; terrestrial birds include the Azores wood pigeon (Columba palumbus azorica), Azorean buzzard (Buteo buteo rothschildi), the grey wagtail (Motocilla cinerea) and the Azorean common blackbird (Turdus merula azorensis), as well as marine birds such as yellow-legged gull (Larus cachinnans atlantis) and the common tern (Sterna hirundo). ==References==