Volcanoes, Valleys and Vast Horizons: A Geography Adventure in the Azores

To say we had a whale of a time may not be quite accurate (the disorientating fog and relentless rain sadly cancelled our much-anticipated whale-watching boat trip). However, given that the forecast had warned of the same conditions for all three days, the dazzling sunlight and “feels-like” 30-degree heat that followed came as a welcome and unexpected gift.

Geography revealed itself from the very beginning. GCSE pupils immediately identified buttress roots, hanging roots and drip-tip leaves in the António Borges Botanical Gardens, while A Level students were soon immersed, quite literally, within a subterranean lava tube system that offered a fresh and exciting perspective on their Hazards topic.

Much of the trip was spent gazing at ever-changing scenery: lichen-covered trees, hydrangea-lined roads, vivid green pastures and dense, flourishing vegetation stretching across the island. But we did more than admire landscapes at a distance. The students launched straight into the action, with two sessions swimming in natural coastal pools where daredevil jumps caused great excitement, a sharp contrast to the calm, steam-filled serenity of a thermal pool in yet another lush botanical setting.

Although the low cloud prevented us from seeing Sete Cidades or the Boca do Inferno viewpoint, we made the most of every opportunity. Students tasted the sweetest pineapples at the Azorean plantation, sampled tea from the only plantation of its kind in Europe, and even squeezed in some retail therapy at the island’s sole shopping mall. Evening downtime in Ponta Delgada, complete with bowling, also proved a highlight.

After a breathtaking lakeside walk, students helped extract a traditional stew cooked underground using geothermal heat from fumaroles, before heading to a local restaurant to enjoy the hearty results.

The Azores trip gave Years Eleven to Upper Sixth students a richer understanding of a culture and landscape so different from their own. Geography was not just observed, it was experienced! That exposure is invaluable, academically and personally, as we begin to recognise that no matter how drastically environments vary, people still share similarities and find common ground, something perhaps amplified by the forces of globalisation.

I hope that, consciously or subconsciously, all students have returned with a deeper awareness of our rapidly changing world and of Geography’s presence in everyday life. Finally, on behalf of my peers, I would like to thank and congratulate our teachers for giving up their time to make such extraordinary opportunities possible.

Report written by Ellen McGettigan, Upper Sixth