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Flores’ enchanting interior
A long-stretched 500 to 600 m high plateau, dotted with several peaks and idyllic crater lakes, forms the often barren, yet picturesque, deserted interior of the island. Covered by predominantly endemic vegetation, with mosses, ferns, lichen and ancient laurissilva forests prevailing, the highland is marked by several peaks, reaching heights between 700 and 900 m, culminating with 914 m at the Morro Alto, a peak located in the north. From the peaks, the views across virgin landscapes, enchanting valleys with murmuring streams and serene crater lakes are fascinating. Closely lined up, there are seven of these beautiful lakes, with their waters glimmering in turquoise and abundant with trout and carps. As all of these lakes fill craters of volcanic origin, they are also called Caldeiras, and from north to south, there are Caldeira Branca, Caldeira Seca (which has usually only water in winter), Caldeira Funda, Caldeira Cumprida, Lagoa da Lomba, Caldeira Rasa and another Caldeira Funda, the southernmost and with around 100 m deepest, hence also called Lagoa Negra due to its blackish colour. Surrounded by lush, mostly endemic vegetation, their shores have become favourite nesting areas for many bird species and therefore walks around the lakes are not really recommended in order not to disturb their natural environment.
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