The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Secretariat for the Environment and the Sea, will promote several scientific and environmental education activities for the local population and tourists visiting the Azores.

Based on the Island Natural Parks, in partnership with the Azores Geopark, these activities are part of the "Summer Science" programme. This initiative is annually promoted by the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture throughout the country with the purpose of promoting and disseminating the natural and cultural heritage of each region. The programme runs from July 15 to September 15 in the national territory and, in the case of the Azores, it will also take place in the sea.

In the archipelago, the activities will focus on the discovery of the Region's geological features and will cover the islands of Sta. Maria, S. Miguel, Terceira, Graciosa, Pico, Faial and Flores.

A tour around the most significant geological spots of Flores island was organised on July 21. The same activities will take place on the island of Faial on August 24 and on the island of Santa Maria the next day.

This initiative already organised an interpretative walk to Ponta Negra on July 20. During this tour, a mysterious volcano was also "built”! Moreover, the island of Santa Maria will organise a maritime tour on the south coast of Santa Maria with stop in the priority Geosite of Ponta do Castelo.

A maritime tour around the island of Graciosa with stop on the most important geosites is scheduled for August 4.

The Island of Terceira already organised an interpretative walk to Mistérios Negros on July 15. The same walk will take place on August 8.

In turn, the island of Pico promoted an interpretative walk to the World Heritage site of Lajido de Santa Luzia on July 20 and a visit to the "Grutas das Torres" will be held on September 4.

Several interpretative visits to the Sete Cidades volcano have already taken place on the island of São Miguel as well as two urban trails around the city of Ponta Delgada. There will be other scheduled activities on the island of São Miguel, including pedestrian walks to Sete Cidades Volcano, Pico das Camarinhas and Ponta da Ferraria on August 5.

Moreover, the activities organised under this initiative include will also include an interpretative visit to the Água de Pau Volcano is scheduled for August 10, a geology class on historical volcanic eruptions in the Furnas Crater Lake on August 24 and a visit to the Povoação Volcano scheduled for September 8.
 
Registrations are free and can be made on the Internet at: http://www.cienciaviva.pt/veraocv/2012/ or through the toll-free number 808 200 205.

For further information, those who are interested should contact the Island Natural Parks and the Environmental Interpretation Centres of the Regional Secretary for the Environment and the Sea.