Caldeira da Serra de Santa Bárbara and Mistérios Negros
From the top of Serra de Santa Bárbara, surrounded by the Nature Reserve, you can contemplate a fair part of Terceira Natural Park, as well as the pristine natural landscape of Azorean forest-clouds, one of the rarest and most valuable plant formations, dominated by Azorean endemic Junipers (Juniperus brevifolia). This Nature Reserve integrates the highest point of the island, situated at an altitude of 1 021m. You can also see a good part of the island, as well as other islands of the central group. Integrated in the Nature Reserve of Serra de Santa Bárbara and Mistérios Negros, there is trail that starts and ends at Gruta do Natal, near Lagoa do Negro. Along Lagoa do Negro, you can contemplate the trachytic domes, dome shaped, resulting from the historical eruption of 1761. These domes, called Mistérios Negros, host still incipient vegetation denoting their extreme youth. For this small lake are referenced about 150 species of birds. Along the way you can observe diverse endemic flora, such as Juniper (Juniperus brevifolia), Azorean Blueberry (Vaccinium cylindraceum), Laurel (Laurus sp.), Laurustinus (Viburnum tinus), Holly (Ilex perado azorica), among others. Near the end of the trail, to the right, is Pico Gaspar. Follow up to have a view over this rich in endemic flora.
