Sete Cidades Lake: the Blue and Green Lagoon Born From a Legend

Some landscapes seem painted in more than one colour on purpose. Sete Cidades Lake is one of them: the same body of water, split by a narrow bridge, appears blue on one side and green on the other, as if nature had decided to test its own limits.

A crater born from an eruption in 1445

The lake fills a vast volcanic caldera, covering about 4.45 square kilometres with a maximum depth of 33 metres, formed after a major eruption in 1445. It’s the largest freshwater lake in the Azores, stretching 4.2 km in length, and is classified as a Protected Landscape under the Natura 2000 network. Pico das Éguas, at 873 metres, is the highest point in the area, which also includes farmland and forest.

Why does it have two colours?

The scientific explanation points to different concentrations of algae on each side of the lake, reflecting light differently and creating the Blue Lagoon and the Green Lagoon. But the story most Azoreans prefer to tell is different: the legend of a blue-eyed princess and a green-eyed shepherd, a forbidden love whose final tears gave rise to the two lakes.

The best viewpoints

Miradouro da Boca do Inferno, a short walk from the road, is one of the most recommended spots to take in the whole lake. Miradouro da Vista do Rei, easier to reach by car, offers an equally striking view over both colours of water.

The village of Sete Cidades

Right on the lake’s shore sits the small parish of the same name, with traditional houses and a neo-Gothic church. It’s worth a stop before or after the walk to the viewpoints.

Best time to visit

Choose a clear day with good light: it’s the only way to properly tell the two shades of water apart. On foggy days, common in the island’s central highlands, the lake can nearly disappear from view.

Tips for visitors

• Sete Cidades Lake has been named one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Portugal.
• Wear comfortable footwear if you plan to walk to the viewpoints further from the road.
• Pair your visit with a bike ride or kayak trip on the lake’s calm waters.

After Sete Cidades, head to Lagoa do Fogo, in the island’s interior, to explore another of São Miguel’s great volcanic craters.

Learn more about walking tours in the Azores.

Learn more about the landscape of the Azores.

Featured image — Photo: Samuel Monteiro Domingues / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0