Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas

Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas (Reserva Florestal de Recreio de Fontinhas)
Forest Park of Fontinhas
Recreational Forest (Florestal de Recreio)
Utility buildings in the Nature Reserve
Nickname: Parque florestal das Fontinhas
Country  Portugal
Autonomous Region  Azores
Group Eastern
Island Santa Maria
Municipality Vila do Porto
Localities Santo Espírito, Vila do Porto
Elevation 374 m (1,227 ft)
Coordinates 36°58′25.32″N 25°5′19.68″W / 36.9737000°N 25.0888000°W / 36.9737000; -25.0888000Coordinates: 36°58′25.32″N 25°5′19.68″W / 36.9737000°N 25.0888000°W / 36.9737000; -25.0888000
Area .03 km2 (0 sq mi)
Biomes Temperate, Mediterranean
Geology Alkali basalt, Tephra, Trachyte, Trachybasalt
Orogeny Volcanism
Period Holocene
Founded Decreto Legislativo Regional n.º 16/1989/A
Date 30 August 1989
Management Secretário Regional do Ambiente e do Mar
 - location Rua Cônsul Dabney - Colónia Alemã, 140, Horta, Faial
 - elevation 28 m (92 ft)
 - coordinates 38°32′2″N 28°37′45″W / 38.53389°N 28.62917°W / 38.53389; -28.62917
Owner Regional Government of the Azores
For public Public
Visitation Closed (Sundays)
Easiest access Estrada Regional 1-1ª (Vila do Porto-Santo Espírito)
Hours 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The location of the Regional National Monument on the island of Santa Maria
Geographic detail from CAOP (2010)[1] produced by Instituto Geográfico Português (IGP)

The Recreational Forest Reserve of Fontinhas (Portuguese: Reserva Florestal de Recreio de Fontinhas) is a recreational forest located centrally on the island of Santa Maria, in the civil parish of Santo Espírito, municipality of Vila do Porto in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores.[2]

History

The Reserva Florestal de Recreio de Fontinhas was created by decree on August 30, 1989 (16/89/A) by the legislature of the Regional Government of the Azores.[2][3][4] It is administered by the Secretaria Regional de Agricultura e Pescas (Regional Secretariat for Agriculture and Fishing), and run day-to-day by the Direcção Regional de Recursos Florestais (Regional Directorate of Forest Resources).

Geography

Manicured forest and grounds
Barbecue and picnic areas

It is an area of about 3 hectares, at about 250 metres (820 ft) above sea level, and includes a section of forest and human spaces, operated by the Regional Government of the Azores. The area is situated on the western slope of the Pico Alto mountain in the middle of the island, which benefits from specific soils and climatic conditions, irrigated by natural springs and high humidity.[4]

It is located adjacent to the island's main transversal motor route, the Estrada Regional E.R. 1-1º, that connects the town of Vila do Porto to the parishes of the eastern part of the island, and specifically Santo Espirito. It is limited to the north by the lands administered by the Directorate, to the east by the road of Água dos Mouros; to the south by the regional roadway and west by the forest nursery. [2]

The nature reserve is a unit of multi-use in the Azores archipelago combining several activities; it is oriented towards human-nature interactivity, providing spaces for human leisure (barbecues, minor recreational activities, sightseeing and pedestrian trails) near to natural flora and fauna in the area. Central to this park is a large area of nurseries, in rectangular beds within a large glade bordered by a curtain of Cryptomerias.[3][4] There are several red clay pedestrian walking trails throughout the park with access to several infrastructures including barbecues, playgrounds, public washrooms, animal pens and lookouts.

The main feature of the park is its rich forest of tall species; a dense forest, its atmosphere populated by Cryptomeria, Sequoia, Picconia azorica and the local Azorean Heather, its paths lined with Azaleas (Rhododendron), tree ferns (Sphaeropteris cooperii), Agapanthus and Camelias (Camelia japonica).[3][4] Trees are the primary coverage, especially the Cryptomeria, but also cedars, oaks and maple species are common.[3][4]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ IGP, ed. (2010), Carta Administrativa Oficial de Portugal (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: Instituto Geográfico Português, retrieved 1 July 2011
  2. 1 2 3 GRA (21 June 2000)
  3. 1 2 3 4 DRRF (2011)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Isabel Soares de Albergaria (2006), p.36-37
Sources
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