Fajãs

Fajãs are a geological feature of São Jorge Island in the Azores.

The island is volcanic in character with steep cliffs running down to the sea. The fajãs are small areas of flat land by the sea caused by the collapse of cliffs. The fajãs are fertile and used for growing many plants including yams, maize and vegetables. It is possible to grow coffee, vineyards, tropical fruits and dragon trees in some of them.

There are fajãs on both sides of the island. On the lower, sunnier southern coast, one will find the fajãs of Velas, Santo Amaro, Almas, Grande, Vimes, Bodes, Além, São João, Cardoso and Alabaçal. The north is a succession of tiny fajãs at the bottom of ravines that are hundreds of metres deep; the outstanding ones are those of Caldeira de Santo Cristo with an underwater cave and a lake which is the only source of cockles in the Azores, Cubres (also with a crystalline lake) and Ouvidor.