Reserva Florestal de Recreio do Mistério de São João, Pico
Facts and practical information
The São João Mystery Recreation Forest Reserve is a Portuguese forest park that is located in the parish of São João, municipality of Lajes do Pico.
This forest park has considerable dimensions and wooded areas where it is possible to observe several endemic plant species, such as the Earth Beech among others introduced as the case of the Pine, which reach a height worthy of note, or the Frankincense, which in spring fills the atmosphere with its sweet smell.
Besides the aforementioned Beech has several other species of vegetation endemic to the Laurissilva forests characteristic of Macaronesia as is the case of a botanical area in which are exposed several specimens of endemic vegetation of the Azores highlighting the Heather, the Pau-branco, the Sanguinho and the Louro-da-Terra.
An important part of the area currently occupied by this park was destroyed on February 11, 1718 by a volcanic eruption that also destroyed a chapel that existed here at the time and that was dedicated to the cult of St. John the Baptist. In memory of this event a memorial was erected in the park by the parish council of São João on March 18, 1934.
Azores