Bay of Refugo

Bay of Refugo (Baía do Refugo)
Location	Azores
Coordinates	38°38′42″N 27°07′05″W / 38.645°N 27.118°W / 38.645; -27.118Coordinates: 38°38′42″N 27°07′05″W / 38.645°N 27.118°W / 38.645; -27.118
Ocean/sea sources	Atlantic Ocean
Basin countries	Portugal
Islands	Terceira
Settlements	Angra do Heroísmo

Bay of Refugo (Portuguese: Baía do Refugo), literally the bay of scrap, is a natural bay within the coastal extent of the civil parish of Porto Judeu, in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo, on the Portuguese island of Terceira (in the archipelago of the Azores). It also refers to the small swimming area that faces into the bay.

History

The beach was formed through the erosion of volcanically-produced lava that originated during a series of eruptions that formed the Guilherme Moniz volcano in 1761. Lavas flowed to the sea by way of the hamlet of Serretinha in the civil parish of Feteira in the direction of Porto Judeu. The lava's path is still traceable: an area of scorched land characterized by black blocks of basalt mixed with large amounts of slag. When the lava flow neared the sea, it spread out and entered the salt water at several points, among them the Bay of

On 28 August 1893, a hurricane, at the time the largest storm in human memory, caused tremendous tidal surges together with punishing winds that ruined homes, churches, and barns that surrounded the bay. Ports were battered and a large number of vessels were lost. The damage caused by this hurricane is still visible near some sections of the southern coast, particularly in the former and now abandoned Church of São Mateus da Calehta (Igreja Velha de São Mateus da Calheta) and the homes of the Bay of Refugo.

Prior to these lava flows, the area was a small semi-sheltered cove used by fishermen to tie-up their boats. Today, the area is classified by the Government of the Azores as a Class 1 bathing beach (according to the definition spelled out in Regional Decree 1/2005/A, 15 February 2005); it has a fresh-water swimming pool and a well-equipped children's playground.

See also

• List of bays in the Azores

Angra do Heroísmo
Civil parishes	Altares Cinco Ribeiras Doze Ribeiras Feteira Nossa Senhora da Conceição Porto Judeu Posto Santo Raminho Ribeirinha Santa Bárbara Santa Luzia São Bartolomeu de Regatos São Bento São Mateus da Calheta São Pedro Sé Serreta Terra Chã Vila de São Sebastião
Natural landmarks	Algar do Carvão Bay of Angra Bay of Pontas Bay of Salga Bay of Refugo Cabras Islets Furna de Água Galerias da Feteira Gruta Brisa Azul Gruta das Agulhas Gruta das Cinco Ribeiras Gruta das Mercês Gruta do Zé Grande Gruta dos Ratões Lagoa do Negro Mata da Serreta Monte Brasil Parque de Campismo das Cinco Ribeiras Ponta do Queimado Porto das Cinco Ribeiras Prainha Serra da Ribeirinha Serra de Santa Bárbara Serra do Morião ou da Nasce Água Zona Balnear do Negrito
Man-made landmarks	Bettencourt Palace Cais da Alfândega Cais da Silveira Castle of Moinhos Cemetery of Anchors Church of São Mateus da Calheta Convent of São Gonçalo Duke of Terceira Garden Fort of the Açougue Fort of the Cavalas Fort of the Church of São Mateus da Calheta Fort of Greta Fort of Má Ferramenta Fort of the Maré Fort of Negrito Fort of Santo António do Monte Brasil Fort of São João Fort of São João Baptista Forte das Caninas Forte das Cinco Ribeiras Forte da Salga Forte de Santa Catarina das Mós Forte de Santo António Forte de São Fernando Forte de São Francisco Forte de São Sebastião Forte do Terreiro Forte do Zimbreiro Fortress of São Mateus da Calheta Reducto da Salga Miradouro da Amoreira Miradouro da Ponta do Queimado Miradouro da Serreta Miradouro das Veredas Miradouro do Pico das Cruzinhas Miradouro do Pico Matias Simão Municipal Palace/Hall of Angra do Heroísmo Parque Arqueológico Subaquático da Baía de Angra do Heroísmo Parque de Campismo das Cinco Ribeiras Parque Municipal do Relvão (Angra do Heroísmo) Porto das Cinco Ribeiras Redoubt of Dois Paus Redoubt of Três Paus Manor of Madre de Deus Sé Cathedral of Angra do Heroísmo