Pico do Fogo: Cape Verde’s central volcano and its caldera

Structure and notable features

The volcano’s most striking feature is its caldera, a roughly 9 km wide depression with a rim that locally stands about 1 km above the surrounding plain. The Portuguese term for such a depression is caldeira. A prominent central volcanic cone sits within the caldera and forms the island’s summit; that cone is the highest point and towers about 100 m above the caldera rim. The lowest part of the caldera floor, called Chã das Caldeiras, lies around 1,625 m in elevation and hosts a small, isolated farming community.

Volcanic activity and history

Pico do Fogo has a history of both summit and flank eruptions. The main central cone is believed to have last erupted in the late 17th century, while more recent activity has taken the form of lateral vents and fissures. A significant flank eruption occurred in 1995, when lava emerged from a side vent and forced evacuations of villages inside the caldera. Historical records also note a destructive event in 1847, associated with earthquakes and fatalities. Lava flows from past eruptions have at times reached far downslope, even approaching the island’s eastern coast.

Human use and ecology

The volcano’s volcanic soils support specialized agriculture: vineyards producing local grapes are cultivated on inner slopes and terraces, and coffee is grown on cooler, shaded slopes of the mountain. Local people have also used solidified lava and volcanic rock as building material. Within the caldera, subsistence gardens and small orchards persist where volcanic soils are deepest.

Biodiversity and endemics

Pico do Fogo supports plant and bird species that are restricted to the island. Two plants known only from the outer rim are Echium vulcanorum and Erysimum caboverdeanum, both considered endemic to this volcanic environment. The mountain also provides breeding habitat for seabirds such as the Fea’s petrel (Pterodroma feae), a species of conservation interest.

Access, cultural importance and conservation

Chã das Caldeiras hosts a small community that has rebuilt after evacuations; residents maintain traditional viticulture and small-scale farming. The slopes attract hikers and visitors drawn to the caldera scenery and volcanic landscapes. Because of its geological uniqueness, ecological value and the human communities living within the crater, the area is treated with conservation interest and monitored for volcanic hazards. Visitors should respect local land use and be aware that eruptions and earthquakes remain possible.

• Main cone historic eruption
• Volcanic cone
• Volcanic crater
• Caldera
• Grapes and coffee cultivation

For further reading on geological and biological aspects of Pico do Fogo, consult regional guides and scientific summaries prepared by institutions that study volcanic islands and Macaronesian biodiversity. Additional resources are available through local authorities and conservation organizations that work on Fogo.