Lagoa do Capitão, or Captain’s Lake, is close to Pico Mountain, which rises some 7,713 ft, the highest point in Portugal. It belongs to the Protected Landscape of the Central Area of Pico’s Natural Park. Like other Pico lakes, it is small and shallow - but the biggest lake on Pico.

The lake water is used to many purposes, including agriculture, and it is an element of unique landscape and quite scenic. In fact, locals come here to hike, picnic and enjoy the views.

During the year, this is great spot for birding, with migratory waterfowl passing through, beside the species that make part of the natural habitat: the Common blackbird (Turdus merula azorensis), Atlantic Canary (Serinus canaria), Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs moreletti), Eurasian Teal (Anas crecca), Eurasian Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago). And, here you can find the Azores Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus azorica) and Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo rothschildi) too.

Around the escarpment there are rare endemic and protected species, such as Euphorbia stygiana and Juniperus brevifolia.