Chronology 2000-2009

1893-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-2009 2010-2021

June 5 – Algar do Carvão was opened to the public, after the tunnel and support house extension works were completed.

June 5 – Beginner Mountaineering Course, at the Montanheiros’ headquarters, with 11 participants. Organized by the climbing section of the Montanheiros. The course was taught by trainers accredited by the Escola Nacional de Montanha da Federação Portuguesa de Campismo, Joaquim Alves and António Coelho.

The Montanheiros Association has its first website www.montanheiros.com

March 30 – The Grupo de Trabalho para o Estudo do Património Espeleológico dos Açores (GESPEA) conducts a biospeleological campaign on Pico island (PICOSPEL 2003), in order to check and standardize the existing data in the Inventário do Património Espeleológico dos Açores (IPEA). The work team is composed by members of the GESPEA Executive Committee, a member of the Montanheiros (Fernando Pereira) and students integrated in the Estagiar L program.

November 14 – In the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Montanheiros Association, the Núcleo dos Montanheiros of Pico Island was constituted.

December 19 – The PS (Socialist Party) Municipal Group’s proposal to attribute the Municipal Merit Medal to the Montanheiros is unanimously approved.

February 14 – A humpback whale, scientific name Megaptera novaeangliae, ran aground on the coast of Santa Barbara, Terceira island. The Montanheiros sent to the site a team of 3 elements composed by José Botelho, Fernando Pereira and Paulo Barcelos in order to proceed to the photographic register of the event. The 6 to 7 meter long whale was in a state of early decomposition.

March 7 – Measuring of the Gruta da Terra Mole, at Biscoitos and Fenda dos Algares, at Altares.

May 13/17 – The XI International Symposium on Volcanospeleology took place in the village of Madalena, Pico island. It was organized by the Regional Secretary of Environment and GESPEA. Expeditions were made to the islands of São Jorge, Faial, Terceira, Graciosa and São Miguel. The highlight of this symposium was the recognition of the mineralogical importance of Algar do Carvão, classified as one of the ten most important volcanic cavities in the world.

April 22 – Algar do Carvão reopens after concluding the works to improve the accessibility, namely in the access staircases and interior landing, at the level of the floor, width and height of the steps as well as the staircase width, there was an increase and reinforcement of the guard walls and a handrail was placed to facilitate the ascent. The installation of pedestrian lighting was also completed.

June – Start of the management of Gruta das Torres, on Pico island.

October –The Associação Os Montanheiros signs a cooperation protocol with the Regional Directorate of Environment and Sea for the management of Pico’s Ecoteca.

During this year, work was done on inventorying, mapping and characterization of volcanic cavities: On the Pico island work was done at Furna Nova II in Bandeiras (sketch and data collection) and at Algar/Gruta do Canto da Serra (data collection). On the Terceira island a company was hired to do the topography of the main sections of the Gruta do Natal, with connection to the external geodetic network.

February 3In the General Assembly of the Associação Os Montanheiros, the Núcleo dos Montanheiros de S. Jorge is created, having at the time Eduardo Franco as president of the board.

June 3The Associação Os Montanheiros was decorated with the Medal of Merit by the Municipality of Angra do Heroísmo. Before the delivery of the insignia, diploma and merit medal, was referred the long and important path of this association at various levels, from the inventory, exploration and conservation of volcanic cavities of the Azores, to tourism, outdoor activities and nature preservation. On such an important night for the Montanheiros, past and present were side by side, represented by the founder of the association, Mr. Américo Silveira (at the time living in the mainland) and the current president of the direction of the Montanheiros, Mr. Paulo Barcelos.

August 23 a 27The speleological campaign “GESPICO 2006” took place. Participated in this activity Paulino Costa, João Carlos Nunes, Paulo Barcelos, Fernando Pereira, José Maria, Paulo Freitas, José Carlos Machado and Roberto Salazar. Prospection work was carried out and 4 new volcanic cavities were found for the Inventário do Património Espeleológico dos Açores (IPEA), as well as work to compile missing information about some of the IPEA’s volcanic cavities.

September 13 a 16A biospeleological campaign took place, where new data on the volcanic cavities of the island of Santa Maria, listed in the IPEA, was gauged and collected. Four volcanic caves were visited. A public session was held at the NAV Auditorium, where GESPEA (e.g. P. Costa) presented the work done in Santa Maria, as well as the GESPEA website. Team composed by João Carlos Nunes, Paulino Costa, Fernando Pereira and Paulo Barcelos. This campaign was part of the project ““GEOMONUMENTOS E PALEOGEOGRAFIA DA ILHA DE SANTA MARIA (AÇORES)”, promoted by the University of the Azores.

December 1 –During the commemorations of the 43rd anniversary of the Associação Os Montanheiros, the first edition of many, of the ““Degraus do Algar do Carvão”” race, takes place. This event consists in climbing all the steps from the pond to the Algar do Carvão’s house of support to the visitors, in the shortest time possible.

January 1 –The Associação Os Montanheiros signs a cooperation protocol with the Regional Directorate of Environment and Sea for the management of S.Jorge’s Ecoteca, at the time located in the Jardim Botânico das Velas.

During this year there were works of inventory, cartography and characterization of volcanic cavities. On Pico island they worked in Furna Vermelha, Gruta do Lajido do Meio, Gruta do Cão, Furna da Sapateira, Furna da Tia Adelaide, Gruta do Cabeço da Negra, Gruta/Algar do Canto da Serra.