Due to electrification works taking place in the municipality of São Roque, a new volcanic cavity with significant geological features and a length of around 170 meters was found on the island of Pico in the Azores. The ‘Gruta da Santana’, as it has been named, presents "a structurally well-preserved geological heritage, with only small collapses in the walls, in addition to several important geological structures”.

Alonso Miguel, the regional secretary for Environment and Climate Action, visited the site with Ana Rodrigues, the regional director for the same organisation, announcing the discovery of this new volcanic cavity on the island of Pico. The discovery was made during electrification works carried out by EDA – Eletricidade dos Açores, in the Santana area, municipality of São Roque do Pico.

At the site, they also “identified the biological presence of colonies of bacteria, arachnids, roots, and bones of small animals, and this set of characteristics highlights the scientific and natural value of the cave, which requires special attention for its preservation”, the regional secretary for the Environment and Climate Action emphasised.

Alonso Miguel explained that “Plenty of information was collected and a cartographic sketch of the cave’s layout was drawn up”, to assess the location of the volcanic cavity and “ensure that the work to be carried out would not cause additional disturbances in this volcanic cavity”.

As he further mentioned, “Pico Island is, by far, home to the largest number of caves, with 145 identified cavities, a number that will be updated at the end of this year, with this discovery”. The finding of the "Gruta de Santana" is further proof of the archipelago's ecological and geological riches, making it a distinctive legacy that should be researched, preserved, and appreciated.