🧭 A Seismic Prelude

Following a seismic crisis that shook the island of Faial, with over 200 earthquakes recorded, a submarine volcanic eruption began in the mid-morning of September 27, 1957. The eruption occurred about 300 meters west of Ponta dos Capelinhos and roughly 100 meters from the Capelinhos islets.

"For two days now, the ground has trembled almost without pause in the parishes of Capelo and Praia do Norte, frightening residents who fled their homes, walking the streets bearing the symbol of the Divine Holy Spirit and praying for Divine Mercy."
— O Telégrafo, September 28, 1957

At 6:45 a.m., the sea was observed in a state of boiling turbulence, expelling scoria that was launched several meters into the air — a sign of the eruption’s beginning.

🌊 The Birth of a New Island

The eruption initially released gases, followed by the expulsion of volcanic material. In just a few days, a new island had formed, reaching 30 meters in height and 600 meters in diameter. This new landmass eventually connected to the Capelinhos islets, and later, to the Faial coastline.

On October 12, 1957, Diário de Lisboa reported:

"A Portuguese scientific mission aboard the patrol ship S. Tomé observed the island of ash growing into a circular shape, measuring approximately 800 meters in diameter and 99 meters in height."

Planting the Flag

On the following day, the same newspaper featured the dramatic moment on its front page:

"A handful of volunteers planted the Portuguese flag on the new Azorean island."

This act was likely a preventive sovereignty gesture, recalling the 1811 incident with Sabrina Island near São Miguel, which sparked international disputes.

"HORTA, Oct 13 — Six Portuguese — three from the mainland and three from Faial — landed yesterday for the first time on the 'Black Island' or 'New Island', where they planted a national flag. Journalists Urbano Carrasco and José Ilharco, TV cameraman Carlos Tudela, and locals Carlos Peixoto, Milton Vaz, and Manuel Duarte approached by boat and swam the final meters to the island, where they remained for about eight minutes."
— Diário de Lisboa, October 13, 1957

⏳ Thirteen Months of Eruption

The volcanic activity persisted until October 24, 1958, lasting about 13 months. Throughout this period, it was monitored by national and international experts in volcanology and geology.

The eruption significantly impacted:

• The Capelinhos lighthouse structure
• Nearby homes, especially in the parish of Capelo
• Daily life, as entire areas were covered in volcanic ash and had to be evacuated

🚢 Isolation and Uncertainty

At the time, Faial Island lacked an airport, and all contact with the outside world—both routine and emergency—depended on maritime connections. This intensified the population’s anxiety during the eruption and seismic events.

The Horta Airport would only be inaugurated on August 24, 1971, with direct flights to Lisbon beginning on July 5, 1985.

🛫 The Azorean Refugee Act

In September 1958, the United States approved the Azorean Refugee Act, which granted hundreds of immigration visas to affected Azoreans. This led to a major wave of emigration, resulting in a population decrease of around 30% on Faial.

🗺️ A Transformed Landscape

The eruption left a lasting impact on Faial’s maritime landscape, altering:

• Nautical charts
• Maritime signaling
• And rendering the Capelinhos Lighthouse—the third oldest lighthouse in the Azores, operating since 1906—inoperative

The lighthouse building was later preserved and repurposed as a heritage site. It now hosts the Capelinhos Volcano Interpretation Center, which was inaugurated in August 2008.

🏛️ Today, the center stands as a tribute to the geological transformation and the human resilience during one of the Azores’ most defining volcanic events.

I am sharing photos of landscapes, moments and experiences. Nature and sea are the most visited themes in my photo collection, but any attention-grabbing aspect can be photographed. Hope you enjoy it...