Corvo lies 24 km (15 miles) northeast of Flores. The smallest island in the
Azores, it has just one settlement, Vila Nova , and is
blissfully undeveloped, with only two taxis and one policeman. The entire island
is the blown top of the marine volcano, Monte Gordo. An ethereal green crater,
the Lagoa do Caldeirão , squats at its northern end. Its rim
can be reached by road, after which there is a steep descent down to the crater
floor 300 m (984 ft) below. In its centre, the crater is dotted with serene
lakes and islands; a patchwork of stone-walled fields covers part of the
slopes.