Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau

The Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau (lit. 'Cod Pool Waterfall' in Portuguese) is a natural waterfall on the island of Flores, a constituent part of the Azores, Portugal. It is located within the boundaries of the civil parish of Fajã Grande, which is part of the municipality of Lajes das Flores. It falls from a height of about 90 metres (300 ft) into a pool below. It is a popular stop for tourists hiking in the surrounding area.

Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau
The Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau in 2007
Location	Flores, Azores, Portugal
Coordinates	39°27′31″N 31°15′22″W
Total height	90 metres (300 ft)

Etymology

Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau means "Cod Pool Waterfall" in the Portuguese language. There are numerous local stories and theories about the origin of the name, but the most popular one is that the name is a reference to a cod-shaped rock that the waterfall hits in the pool below.^[1][2]

Geography

The Cascata do Poço do Bacalhau is located in the civil parish of Fajã Grande, in the municipality of Lajes das Flores, on Flores Island, a constituent part of the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It is on the trail between the main town of Fajã Grande and the Ponta da Fajã hiking area.^[3] The waterfall is 90 metres (300 ft) high and descends to a small pool below, the Poço do Bacalhau (Codfish Pool).^[4] The water in the natural pool is clear and suitable for swimming, making it a frequent destination for visitors to the island, particularly those who have finished the trek along the Trilho dos Lagos (Trail of the Lakes).^[4][5] The pool is surrounded by endemic vegetation, notably the Azores or Macaronesian laurel (Laurus azorica).^[1]

See also

• List of waterfalls