São Vicente Caves

The São Vicente Caves (Grutas de São Vicente in Portuguese) are caves located in the parish and county of São Vicente, Madeira. Entrance is charged at €8 for adults.

São Vicente Caves
São Vicente Caves
LocationSão Vicente, Madeira
Coordinates32°47′51.8″N 17°02′33.2″W
Depth40 m
Length1000 m
Discovery1885
Entrances1
DifficultyEasy to Difficult
HazardsVaried

History

These caves were formed around 890,000 years ago from a volcanic eruption in Paul da Serra that ran down to the sea. Thus, the outside, exposed to lower temperatures solidified rapidly while the inner liquid continued to run with many gases, forming a series of lava tubes, which today constitute the caves of São Vicente.

They were first discovered in 1885, by local people who informed James Yate Johnson an English naturalist in Madeira who explored the caves further.

The caves were opened to the public on 1 of October 1996, being one of the first caves of volcanic origins to be opened to the public in Portugal.[1]

References
  1. "Caves of São Vicente - São Vicente's Caverns". Retrieved 2016-10-14.


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