The President of the Government began today a working visit to São Miguel in the village of Sete Cidades, where he learned about the results of the use of ultrasound equipment installed on the Green Lake as part of the efforts undertaken towards the recovery of Sete Cidades and Furnas lakes.
 
"The use of this technology is part of an effort that has been undertaken for several years to recover the natural and environmental heritage that not only belongs to the village of Sete Cidades and São Miguel Island, but also to the Azores," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The use of ultrasound technology contributes to solving a natural phenomenon that manifested itself more intensely during the summer, causing a yellow spot on the Green Lake.
 
According to the President of the Government, it is necessary to distinguish what is the use of this technology that results in this important visual effect, but also the structural measures adopted on São Miguel, namely the diversion of tributaries. In the case of Furnas, these measures also included the acquisition of land, the removal of farms and the reforestation of areas surrounding the lake.
 
"For a clear idea, 21 million Euros have already been invested in Furnas and Sete Cidades in the acquisition of land, removal of farms and reforestation actions," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
"What this does is to preserve a heritage that is ours, recovering it and putting it in a position to be appreciated by all of us," said the President of the Government. As for results, if we take into consideration a scale from 1 to 3 - 1 corresponds to the best state and 3 to the most degraded - the Blue Lake varies between 1 and 2 and the Green Lake between 3 and 2.
 
"We are, thus, on the right track to recover and continue appreciating this natural heritage," said the President of the Government.