"RIBEIRA GRANDE" a Ribeira Grande Travel Page by Avieira67

Ribeira Grande in Portuguese means large river. In fact this municipality located on the central part of São Miguel Island, with a population of 29,318 inhabitants, is crossed by a large river.
The seat of the municipality, Ribeira Grande city, with a population of 5,300 inhabitants, is linked with an express way to Ponta Delgada, the capital located about 14 km southeast. These cities are well connected by public transportation.

The municipality comprises 14 parishes, including the big fishing village of Rabo de Peixe and the picturesque village of Porto Formoso, where we find one of the two tea factories and Praia dos Moinhos beach.
In this municipality is located Pico da Barrosa (Barrosa Peak), in which crater we find one of the most interesting landscape of the Azores, Lagoa do Fogo (Fogo lake). This lake is accessible through a road passing by Caldeira Velha, a natural swimming pool, served by hot water from a waterfall, located in a protected natural garden.

Other interesting natural places worth a visit include: Caldeiras (geysers) and Lombadas Valley.