Furnas Valley is a volcanic landscape on São Miguel Island in the Azores, formed inside a large crater. The area has a lake, hot springs, geysers, and steam vents heated by underground geothermal energy. What makes Furnas especially unique is its water. Across the village, there are many public taps where people can taste mineral water flowing directly from natural springs. Each tap comes from a different underground source, so the water varies in temperature, color, smell and taste. Some waters are warm and rich in iron, giving them a reddish color and a metallic flavor, while others are cool, clear and lightly sparkling with natural gases. Locals and visitors walk between the taps to sample the different waters, which reflect the island’s active volcanic system and the rich minerals found beneath the ground.
I tried cozido das furnas, a traditional Portuguese stew from the village of Furnas. The dish includes different kinds of meat, along with potatoes, carrots, cabbage and other vegetables cooked together. What makes this meal special is how it is prepared. The ingredients are placed in a large pot and buried underground near Furnas Lake, where natural heat from the Earth slowly cooks the stew for about 6–7 hours.
