Pico Island Pico Island Pico Island ("Ilha do Pico," ), is an island in the Central Group of the Portuguese Azores. The landscape features an eponymous volcano, Ponta do Pico, which is the highest mountain in Portugal, the Azores, and the highest elevation of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. In the tradition of the Portuguese poet, Raul Brandão, Pico is referred to as the Ilha Preta ("Black Island"), for its black volcanic earth, responsible for its UNESCO-designated historical vineyards that allowed the development of the island. After depositing herds on the island in the first half of the 15th century, the first colonies were
Protected areas of the Azores Azores, was Decree 78/72 (7 March 1972), which created the "Reserva Integral da Caldeira do Faial" ("Integrated Reserve of the Faial Caldera"), which was closely followed by Decree 79/72 (8 March 1972), that established the "Reserva Integral da Montanha da ilha do Pico" ("Integrated Reserve of the Mountain of the Island of Pico"). After a hiatus of two years, Decree 152/74 (15 April 1974) was published that created on the island of São Miguel the "Reserva da Lagoa do Fogo" ("Reserve of Lagoa do Fogo"), which was subject to forestry service guidelines along its perimeter. These regulatory frameworks were in