Pico do Fogo sits inside a giant ancient crater called a caldera — a wide bowl-shaped valley several kilometres across. Inside this caldera, a small community of farmers grows grapes and coffee in soil that is incredibly rich because of old volcanic ash. The wine made here from those grapes is famous across Cape Verde.
The volcano is very much alive and has erupted many times in recorded history. When it erupts, glowing lava flows slowly across the caldera floor like a very slow river of melted rock. Scientists watch the volcano carefully with special instruments to let people know if an eruption is coming. The most recent major eruption happened in 2014.
Hikers from all over the world climb Pico do Fogo to see the view from the top. On a clear day you can see several other Cape Verde islands far below across the deep blue Atlantic. The climb takes several hours and the air near the summit is very thin and cool, even though the island itself is warm and sunny.
The dark lava rock around the volcano creates a dramatic landscape that looks almost like the surface of the moon. But look closer and you will spot hardy plants, lizards, and even some birds living among the rocks — life finds a way even in the most volcanic places.