Deserto Vermelho
Designado como “Deserto Vermelho dos Açores”, o Barreiro da Faneca possui uma área de 835 hectares e fascina o visitante pela sua paisagem árida e argilosa de coloração avermelhada, única no arquipélago.
De origem vulcânica, pertence principalmente à unidade geológica denominada “Formação de Feteiras”, a qual corresponde ao vulcanismo mais recente ocorrido em Santa Maria, de caráter essencialmente explosivo, sendo constituído por piroclastos que foram posteriormente alterados em argilas vermelhas, sob a ação de um clima quente e húmido que caracterizou o Pliocénico Superior (há 3,6 a 2,6 milhões de anos).
O Barreiro da Faneca apresenta uma superfície de relevo ondulado, com declives suaves e pequenos sulcos ou ravinas, formados devido à escorrência da água das chuvas e ação do vento, particularmente visíveis nas zonas desprovidas de vegetação.
Esta área protegida inclui as arribas das Baías do Raposo, do Tagarete e da Cré, onde estão expostas significativas sequências estratigráficas que incluem formações vulcânicas, como escoadas lávicas submarinas e subaéreas, e formações sedimentares, como calcários e conglomerados fossilíferos.
Na sua envolvência é possível observar espécies de flora endémica como, por exemplo, o pau-branco (Picconia azorica), a malfurada (Hypericum foliosum), o louro-da-terra (Laurus azorica) e a urze (Erica azorica), e flora nativa como a faia-da-terra (Morella faya). Verifica-se ainda a presença de algumas espécies invasoras como o incenso (Pittosporum undulatum) e o pica-ratos (Ulex europaeus).
Na mata que circunda o Barreiro, é possível observar aves de subespécies endémicas com a estrelinha de Santa Maria (regulus regulus sanctaemariae) e a toutinegra dos Açores (Sylvia atricapila atlantis), e a espécie nativa pisco (Erihacus rubecula).
O trilho pedestre Costa Norte (PR01SMA) e a Grande Rota de Santa Maria (GR01SMA) possibilitam uma caminhada por esta área protegida, a qual inclui geossítios do Geoparque Açores – Geoparque Mundial da UNESCO, uma Área Importante para as Aves e Biodiversidade (IBA – Important Bird and Biodiversity Area) da organização BirdLife International e jazidas fósseis de classe 2 e 3 do Paleoparque de Santa Maria.
Fonte : Parques Naturais Açores
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