Natural wonders

Often compared to Hawaii and dubbed the ‘new Canaries’, a paradise island with azure waters and unspoilt beaches has been named as one of Europe’s most beautiful places to visit

A tropical island retreat with crystal-clear azure waters and pristine beaches has been crowned as Europe’s most breathtaking destination to visit this year. Conveniently, its stunning scenes are just a four-hour flight away.

Nestled in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, to the west of mainland Portugal, lies the spectacular archipelago of nine islands known as the Azores. Long compared to Hawaii, they’re frequently referred to as the new Canary Islands, thanks to their unspoilt beaches, shimmering crater lakes and cascading waterfalls, set against dramatic green cliffs and lush forests that remain wonderfully untouched.

With nine volcanic islands comprising the Azores, there’s a wealth of discoveries to be made, with each island boasting its own jaw-dropping coastline and diverse landscape that is sure to leave you speechless. So much so that Lonely Planet has named the Azores as one of the ‘most beautiful places to visit in Europe’ and the best for a ‘remote island escape’.

The publication noted that the Azores have been “long overlooked” and are like “stepping stones to another world”, with their collection of subtropical gardens, forests, and “brilliantly blue caldera lakes” that draw in nature lovers. For those keen to visit, Lonely Planet recommended spending time “floating in the dazzlingly turquoise thermal waters of Caldeira Velha on São Miguel island, hiking through botanical gardens brimming with azaleas, camellias and hydrangeas on Flores, gasping out loud as sperm whales and humpbacks emerge from the deep blue on Faial, or climbing up to Mt Pico’s cloud-shredding, 2351m cone for sensational views across the archipelago.”

For those wanting to experience these breathtaking landscapes firsthand, direct flights are available from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the Azores’ main gateway, Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL), with a journey time of just over four hours. Prices start from £118 per person, according to Skyscanner, with limited availability, but it’s well worth securing a trip to savour this slice of paradise, reports the Express.

What’s more, set against the Azores’ spectacular scenery and dramatic coastlines, visitors can also take advantage of remarkably affordable prices. A pint will typically cost around €1.50 (£1.28), while a meal at a local restaurant comes in at between €10 to €15 (£8.57 and £12.85) per person, or €30 (£25.70) at a popular establishment.

One of the most coveted destinations to visit is São Miguel Island, also known as the ‘Green Island’. It’s the largest island in the archipelago and is famed for its striking twin-crater lake, Sete Cidades, which boasts contrasting blue and green-tinted waters. Recognised as one of Portugal’s seven natural wonders, it’s undeniably breathtaking with its magical surroundings.

Elsewhere, São Miguel Island offers a wealth of dramatic volcanic beaches with black sand and crystal-clear waters, ideal for soaking up the September sunshine. These include Praia de Santa Bárbara, a well-known surfing hotspot, and Praia dos Mosteiro, complete with heated rock pools for a dip away from the ocean waves.

Yet the offshore islet at Vila Franca do Campo is arguably the most stunning stretch of coastline of them all, with its curved sunken volcanic crater forming an extraordinary natural swimming pool. What’s more, dotted throughout the Azores are secluded coves, beaches and volcanic thermal springs just waiting to be uncovered, meaning you’ll never be stuck for options on where to spend your island escape.

Direct flights from the UK to the Azores depart from London Heathrow via British Airways, typically operating during the summer months.

You can fly from many other UK airports, such as London Gatwick and Manchester, with one stop via major carriers including TAP Air Portugal, which connects through Lisbon or Porto, or SATA Azores Airlines, which connects via mainland Portugal or North America connections.

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This huge cave is more than 2,000 metres deep.

Deep beneath a massive mountain range lies a sprawling cave system that spirals beneath the hills, extending more than 2000 metres into the earth. This cave system is the deepest in the world (depending on who you ask), its limestone caverns so huge that you could upend Ben Nevis and place it inside, and still have room remaining.

The Veryovkina Cave lies beneath the Gagra Range of the Western Caucasus within the Georgian region of Abkhazia. This cave is one of two which frequently compete for the title of the deepest cave on earth.

According to Live Science, both Veryovkina and another cave in the same region, Krubera (also known as the Everest of the Deep), alternate as record holders, depending on the most recent research.

Both caves are more than 2,000 metres deep and are frequently explored further by scientists and cavers who are constantly updating the measurements.

The caves are dark, inhospitable and cold with temperatures rarely exceeding 3°C.

As you descend further into the depths, animals begin to change. Many of the species which call these caves home have no eyes or pigmentation and have long antennae, appendages and hairs which help them sense vibrations and move throughout the blackness of the cave system.

As of January this year, Veryovkina is currently in the lead, with a depth of 2,212 metres, or 1.37 miles. Krubera is close behind, at 2,199 metres, or 1.37 miles.

Veryovkina was discovered in 1968 and given the name S-115 and then renamed in 1986 after Alexander Veryovkin, a cave diver who died in a water-filled passage while exploring a nearby cave Su-Akan.

Another major incident in Veryovkina Cave occurred in 2018, and very nearly killed a team of cave explorers.

National Geographic photographer Robbie Shone and his assistant Jeff Wade joined a team of Russian explorers who had descended to the very bottom of the cave over four days.

They were camped in the darkness to undertake a more detailed examination of the cavern.

One morning, the team were eating breakfast when the cavern shook as if an earthquake had struck, and according to Robbie an “enormous torrent” of white water appeared from a hole and began to flood the cavern.

National Geographic wrote about the team’s desperate scramble back up the cave to escape the rapid flooding.

Robbie remembered climbing through the tight passages upwards as they rapidly filled with water.

He said: “All I could see was the white rope in front of me. “And I just kept moving the ascender up a little bit at a time. I was saying to myself, ‘Just keep going. Just keep doing this.’”

The whole team escaped from the cave, barely.

Robbie said: “This team had the strength, the reserves, mentally and physically, to deal with the worst situation. That’s not only why they’re exploring the deepest cave in the world so successfully, but why we all survived.”