At the western edge of São Miguel lies Sete Cidades, a volcanic crater that feels more like myth than geology. According to legend, the two lakes at its heart—one green, the other blue—were formed by the tears of a green-eyed princess and a blue-eyed shepherd. Forbidden from being together by her father, the King of Atlantis, their final farewell filled the craters with the colors of their heartbreak.

​The scientific reality, however, is a story of depth and life. While they appear as "twins," they are actually one body of water. The green part owes its color to a high concentration of algae and nutrients fueled by the surrounding lush slopes. In contrast, the blue part is much deeper and clearer; its vast depth scatters the blue spectrum of sunlight back to the surface. Whether born of ancient Atlantis or the quiet work of Atlantic algae, the transition into this peaceful valley remains one of nature’s most profound sights. And a wonder of the Azores.