Road Through the Pastrues of Terceira
by Kelly Hazel
Title
Road Through the Pastrues of Terceira
Artist
Kelly Hazel
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
This road is one of a sparse network of narrow dirt roads that cut through the pastures below Serra do Cume on Terceira Island. The vast plains are the remnants of the caldera from one of the four stratovolcano that make up Terceira. Many years after the volcano had ceased to be active, parts of the rim collapsed inward, resulting in this vast bowl of flat, fertile lands. The caldera is approximately 7km by 9km and is filled with a patchwork of cow pastures.
Cattle farming is the source for most economic activity on Terceira island; it is said that there are at least 2 cows for every person on Terceira. The fields are separated by fences made with black volcanic stone which is very abundant on the island.
This road is one of the wider roads through the pastures, but is not uncommon to get stuck behind a farmer moving a heard of cattle along or across the roadway, or to come face to face with an oncoming heard of cows. When this happens, there is not much to do other than follow slowly along until the road widens enough for the cattle to squeeze to one side or pull over and let them pass.
In this photograph, you can see Ilheuse de Cabras and the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean. Ilheus de Cabras is a duel islet just off the souther coast of Terceira. It is uninhabited, but early settlers are said to have used it to forage for goats and sheep. Today, goats and sheep are not a very large part of the economy as the cows are, but they are still on the island.
Uploaded
March 6th, 2017
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