Azores - Pico - its lava tubes.

Pico / Azores - Gruta das Torres - photo by Ana Janeiro / SAMI.arquitectos.

The island of Pico, the second largest in the archipelago of the Azores, one of the most recent - 300,000 years old - houses, due to the composition of its lava flows, the largest number of lava tubes, about 80.

Gruta das Torres form a group of interconnected tunnels of lava. It is located in the pahoehoe and aa lava flows, issued from the parasite cone Cabeço Bravo, at various times between 500 and 1500 years ago. Wide of 50 cm to 22 meters, high from 1.1 m to 15 m, they have been explored scientifically only in 1990. With an estimated 5,200 meters (about 3,300 m and explored), it is the most large lava tube known in the Azores.

Pico / Azores - Stalactites in the lava tube of Gruta das Torres - photo Mike Norton

Pico / Azores - Lava tube of Gruta das Torres - photo Mike Norton

These tunnels are a formidable drainage system of lava, as shown by the presence of more than seven levels on the walls, with benches and ledges, "lavacicles" (a generic term for stalactites and stalagmites in a lava tube).

Pico / Azores - Gruta das Torres, carved by lava - photo Geoparque Azores

Gruta das Torres has two inputs, the first in a skylight, the other is protected by a building which houses the Visitor center, in harmony with the volcanic environment.

Gruta das Torres - the Visitor Center - photo by Ana Janeiro SAMI.arquitectos.

Gruta das Torres - the Visitor Center, the perforated wall outside - photo by Ana Janeiro SAMI.arquitectos.

Gruta das Torres - the Visitor Center, the perforated wall inside - photo by Ana Janeiro SAMI.arquitectos.

A perforated stone wall, a "volcanic lace" is at the junction of the building and the lava tunnel itself ... filtered light streaming naturally to illuminate the interior. The rest of the building is lined with an impermeable black finish in harmony with the color and texture of the vitrified lava in the tube.

Gruta das Torres - the furnished lava tunnel portion - photo by Ana Janeiro SAMI.arquitectos

Gruta das Torres was chosen with 17 other lava tubes in Pico, for inclusion in a set of 30 tubes proposed for inclusion in the list of Unesco World heritage.

Sources :

- Geoparque Açores - Pico - Gruta das Torres - link

- Caves and pits from the Azores, with some comments on their geological origin; distribution and fauna - by P.A.V.Borges & al.

- Archdaily - Gruta das Torres Visitor Centre / SAMI-architectos - link

- ENS Lyon - l'intérieur des tunnels de lave - Açores : Gruta das Torres

- Amigo dos Açores - Volcanic caves