Pico Island holds the highest count and diversity (approximately 130 in total) of volcanic cavities due to its youthful age (less than 300,000 years) and, most notably, its exclusive basaltic volcanic activity featuring numerous highly fluid lava flows locally referred to as “lajidos.” The Furna Vermelha, located in the parish of Madalena, stands as one of the volcanic cavities on this mountainous island. It comprises a lava tube spanning 735 metres in length, oriented southeast-northwest, featuring 10 skylights along its course, along with spacious chambers. It is characterized by the exposure of reddish-toned lavas that dominate a significant portion of the cave (hence its name Furna Vermelha, meaning Red Cave), and its interior is rich with volcanic speleological formations such as intricate lava patterns, stalagmites and stalactites of lava, side ledges, striated walls, overlapping tube formations, bridges and lava lakes, levées (raised ridges), pahoehoe and aa lava floors, and lava cascades. This is a geosite of regional significance with scientific and educational purposes.
