POÇA DA DONA BEIJA | Thermal Paradise | Furnas – São Miguel – Açores
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The Poça da Dona Beija
Naturally hot water rich in iron, coming from the Furnas Volcano.
At Poça da Dona Beija, you can experience moments of pure relaxation.
It is a space that presents itself as a place of revitalization and restoration of harmony between the body, mind, and nature.
Interactive map
This is a mystical place of leisure and relaxation, immersed in the exuberant Azorean nature and features geothermally heated water from an iron-rich water spring.
Browse our interactive map and find out what you can find when you visit us.
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Benefits
In thermal spas, thermal water is known to offer various health benefits, such as improving blood circulation, reducing stress/pain, and aiding with skin problems.
Indeed, iron-rich water can also be beneficial for allergies, anemia, as well as other medical conditions.
History
Browse through history
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1900's
Water germinates
Along the bank of the stream Ribeira dos Lameiros, where the hot water flows downstream, enriching it over the years and boosting the farming of the famous “Furnas hot water taro”, which stood out in the local landscape.
1988
The discovery of magic
Legend has it that a pool fed by water springing from a cave in Lomba das Barracas was first used on a regular basis by a local priest. As it became increasingly famous and more people started using it, the government decided to develop the site in 1988 and, after this initial development, the natural site of the cave spring of Lomba das Barracas started to be known as the Dona Beija Pool, being named after a Brazilian soap opera airing on local TV at the time.
2007
Redevelopment
There were growing environmental concerns over the uncontrolled increase in the number of pool-goers. Therefore, in 2005, the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea agreed that a redevelopment plan was urgently needed. In February 2007, the public was banned from the pool over public health and safety concerns.
2010
Criações Naturais
On November 29, 2010, the pool was officially reopened and the management and maintenance of the Dona Beija thermal pools was awarded to the company Criações Naturais, Lda. by public tender.
2014
Honoring nature
More recently, from 2014 to 2015, the concessionaire further redeveloped the site. The conservation of the natural space that surrounds the Dona Beija thermal pools is one of the main concerns of the company Criações Naturais, Lda., which is in charge not only of cleaning and maintaining the pool area and infrastructure but also of the surrounding natural landscape.
2022
Security and inclusion
More recently, between 2021 and 2022, the changing rooms and sanitary facilities were renovated. In this way, it was possible to improve conditions focused on safety, hygiene and quality, adding facilities for reduced mobility, which previously did not exist on site.