Monumentos e Sítios

This natural scenery of Chã das Caldeiras, punctuated by an active volcano, has been inhabited and exploited since the first quarter of the 20th century, benefiting mainly from the use of water from the two springs called Fonte Velha and Fonte Nova, located in Boca Fonte, but also from the quality of the soil inside the Caldeiras

It should be noted that Chã das Caldeiras is a unique case of human settlement inside the crater of an active volcano. Volcanic activities that periodically shape the landscape force man and women to adapt to the adversities imposed by nature. In this way, the capacity for resilience is manifested in traditional buildings, such as the funcos, a typical dwelling of Chã das Caldeiras, which is reminiscent of the tribal dwellings of Africa.

The Natural Park of Fogo – Chã das Caldeiras, one of the largest protected areas in the country, which is part of the National Network of Protected Areas of Cabo Verde, was inscribed on UNESCO’s tentative list based on criteria VIII and X

O Natural Park of Fogo, due to its lithological and geomorphological characteristics, resembles the volcanic islands that make up Macaronesia, and which are located in areas with an extensive history of active volcanism, which constitutes a “hotspot geológico”. In particular, it refers to the Teide Natural Park, Canary Islands, Spain, classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007.

As volcanoes bear witness to the great geological and geomorphological stages of the Atlantic islands, they have become reference areas for international research. This comparison is also evident in the contrast of the landscape, on the one hand, lunar and, on the other hand, verdant in a relatively limited area. The aspect that distinguishes the two landscapes comes down to anthropic issues, namely the interaction of man with the environment, which has shaped, in a very striking way, the men and women of Chã.

This interaction goes beyond the physical aspect of occupation of the territory, entering, after each eruption, into a symbolic plane where the volcano appears as a friend in a complex balance only understandable by those from Chã das Caldeiras. This unique and singular relationship represents the authenticity and originality of Chã das Caldeiras.