Ribeira Quente

Front façade of the parochial church of São Paulo, reconstructed between 1796-98

Around the middle of the 15th century, the first settlers began occupying land along the coast of what would become Ribeira Quente. Sometime in 1588, a huge landslide from the valley of Furnas, provoked by intense rainfall, caused the expansion of the land in Ribeira Quente.[3] A similar volcanic eruption on 2 September 1630, within the Furnas craters, also provoked a debris flow of debris, that inundated the river and covered the coast, limiting the access of local shipping that once crossed the area.[3] It was within this problem environment that a small sedentary community continued occupy and develop along the coast. This community was populated by a poor peasant class, that includes generations of fishermen, for the greater part of its history.[3] A local historian once described the heritage of this community, and particular, the rise of a few families:

"If we examine, by supposition, based on physio-Physiognomy appearances, we can say that the largest ethnic group in Ribeira Quente, (the Regos) due to their dark skin or their comportment and complexion, could have something to do with the Sousas, Arrudas and Monteiros from Santa Maria; with the Botelhos and Bentos of Vila Franca and Povoação Velha, or even that the Resendes and Bentos from Faial da Terra. But the Peixotos from Ribeira Quente, that immense clan, which always identified itself with the sea and only with the sea?...The physical complexion, between medium and tall, violent temperament and complicated discussion, which quickly turned to pacificism, was a beautiful group, men as well as women. With a red-freckled skin, vivid blue eyes, they are markedly different from other peoples, just as those peoples who settled in Relva and Bretanha, and which many historians mention or identify in order not to offend historical susceptibility: the Peixotos of Ribeira Quente were prolific and brave in the sea. The women of that clan are a species of warrior women, during a marked time. Whether it was in domestic work, or in the fields or others, for their physical strength, they called them beasts of burden. Fundamentally, the Peixotos of Ribeira Grande were the perfect prototypes of the Nordic peoples."

Around 1765, the first chapel dedicated to São Paul was established by peoples from Vila Franca do Campo; at the time, Ribeira Quente was a parish within this municipality.[3] A second temple was built around 1796-98, when the church did not provide sufficient space for the growing community, and after the original church was damaged due to its proximity to the sea.[3]

The Fort of São Paulo was an important part of the communities defence during the era of piracy.[3] Located west of Fogo beach, an area where privateers and pirates could easily disembark, the Fort was established in an area with high cliffs; by 1817 the Fort was in ruins and its artillery removed.[3] In 1839, Ribeira Quente was integrated into the municipality of Povoação, which was obliged to construct a rudimentary road, the Caminho do Redondo, as part of its act of union with the municipality. It was during the visit of King Carlos I of Portugal that a stone marker was placed to commemorate the beginning of the construction of the access road: this project would only be completed 37 years later.[3]

The hilltop of Pico de Agrião, the highest point in the parish

The Fogo Beach located on the western part of Ribeira Quente

The misty skies in the locality of Ribeira Quente, alongside the namesake stream

This is a coastal community, at the mouth of a major ravine and bordered by the municipality of Vila Franca do Campo on the west, the parishes of Furnas to the north, and Povoação to the east. Although it pertained to the religious community of Vila Franca do Campo, it was incorporated into Povoação in the early part of the 20th century.

Many of the lands in the northern part of the parish are owned by José do Canto and the benevolent society of Furnas, fronting the hilltop of Pico dos Bodes. To the south, until the coast, is the ravine Ribeira do Agrião, while the Grota do Tufo carves an access to the coastal community. Although the northeast of the parish has significant andesite deposits and the northwest primarily basalt, the parish is composed chiefly of pyroclastic materials and projectiles, with deposits of ash located in the central area of the parish. It is located in a seismic area marked by regional tectonic structures and by the volcanic craters of Furnas and Povoação; there are visible examples of dykes, faults and landslides associated with historical earthquakes.

The northern part of the parish is part of the protected zone associated with the Lagoa das Furnas crater lake. Generally, the land use in this area is limited, although classification of land-use in Ribeira Quente covers a range of seven classes (Classes I-VII), with progressively increasing limitation levels. Owing to the forested spaces, levels of protection and urbanization there are few areas available for agricultural production. There are great differences in altitude within the parish, owing to the mountainous and morphological nature of the area. The slopes (between 6-20% incline) along the coast and interior condition many of the land-uses and levels of erosion, and have reduced the access to the community.

Physically, the population groups are concentrated in two areas: the main village of Ribeira Quente and a smaller agglomeration called Fogo. Ribeira Quente is situated at the convergence of the Ribeira dos Tambores with the ocean, and is the site of the main fishing port, adjacent homes, commercial businesses and administrative buildings. The locality of Fogo surrounds the main parochial church of São Paulo, erected between 1911 and 1917. In this area is a small bay and main beach: Praia do Fogo. The existence of hydrothermal vents makes the waters in this area popular with visitors and locals alike, owing to the tepid waters in comparison to other coastal pools.

The fishery, where approximately 133 claim income, represents 10.8% of the island's catches in 1985. Even without major infrastructural improvements the area's fishery maintained a reasonable rate of return. The improvements in the ports of Ribeira Quente and Povoação resulted in greater catches and expansion of the local fleet, which was responsible for the largest catches of tuna on the island.

Apart from the many older, generational residences and estates in the region, the parish has the following buildings classified by the national registry:

• Church of São Paulo (Portuguese: Igreja Paroquial de Ribeira Quente/Igreja de São Paulo), the parochial church of Ribeira Grande was based in a hermitage constructed in 1665, that was later abandoned, and in 1799, a new hermitage was constructed near the sea.[5] Successive damage by storms along the southern coast, resulted in the construction of a new church to support the local community.[5] In 1917, a great festival was organized, on the occasion of the benediction of the church constructed to replace the hermitage, presented by the Bishop of Angra, D. Manuel Damasceno da Costa.[5] The altar in the church was presented to the parish by the clergy of the Convent of Graça (in Ponta Delgada), whose church was dismantled after the proclamation of the Republic, along with various images (most damaged).[5]