#10 - PRC1 Gruta do Natal e Mistérios Negros
Serra de Santa Bárbara e dos Mistérios NegrosLength: 3.2 mi • Est. 1 h 38 m
The trail begins and ends where the Grotto known the Christmas Cave is located, next to Lagoa do Negro, and it takes around 2h 30m. The trail begins on a beaten earth track that ends at a wooden gate. After the gate it continues through meadowland until you come to a second wooden gate and after that you continue along a narrow path. Heather (Calluna vulgaris), tall growing heather (Juniperus brevifolia), running along the edge of the Vale Fundo lake. Along the way you will get a fork in the path where the right to short detour leads you to a different view of the lake. Return to the fork in the path and go straight ahead through an area rich in native plant species such as juniper, Azores blueberry (Vaccinium cylindraceum), laurel (Laurus sp.), Portuguese laurel (Viburnum tinus), holly (Ilex perado), Cape myrtle (Myrsine retusa) among others. Going through this area you will come upon the "Dark Mysteries", three domes formed from recent lava deposits still bare of plant cover.
The trail goes between two of these 'mysteries' over very rough ground that requires careful walking. Once through this area, the track becomes easier and it soon leads into another narrow path that goes through the wood of Japanese cedar. Once clear of the wood, the trail takes you through meadowland and ends at the tarred road where you turn left and after about 100 m you will have Pico Gaspar on your right. Climb up and take a look at its crater rich in species found only in this location. Then return down Pico Gaspar and, continuing along the road for about 100 m, turn left and walk through the pastureland that comes to an end in Christmas Grotto.
The course begins and finishes at the place where the Gruta do Natal is located, next to the Lagoa do Negro, and lasts about 2h30. The trail begins on a dirt road that ends at a gate, after which you enter a pasture and, following always ahead you will find a second wooden gate and only then you will enter a standing path. This path runs through a forest of cryptomeria, queiró (Caluna vulgaris), heath (Erica azorica) and cedar-jungle (Juniperus brevifolia), passing by the bank of the lagoon of Vale Fundo. Continuing the route, you will find a fork in which, turning to your right, you will enter a small detour that allows you to see the same lagoon from another perspective. Returning to the fork, and continuing straight ahead, the route continues through an area rich in endemic vegetation, such as cedar-mato, serra (Vaccinium cylindraceum), laurel (Laurus sp.), Leafy (Viburnum tinus ), holly (Ilex perado), tamujo (Myrsine retusa), among others. Passing this area you will find the "Black Mysteries", three domes formed by accumulations of recent lavas that are not yet provided with vegetation.
The route passes between two of these mysteries through a very irregular floor that requires some care. After crossing this area, you will enter a dirt road, more accessible, which will take you soon after to a new path that crosses a forest of criptomérias. After crossing the forest, the trail follows a pasture zone and ends on a tar road where you should turn left and after about 100m you will find on your right the Gaspar Peak that you can climb to observe its crater rich in endemisms. Then you must descend Gaspar Peak and, continuing on the road, about 100m afterwards, you should turn left following along a pasture that ends in the Christmas Grotto.
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