Effusive and explosive submarine eruptions across these fissural faults gave rise to the long, slender island of São Jorge.

The Baixa is one of these plateaus made of submerged basalt cliffs created by fissural tectonics, with accentuated slopes aligned northwest to southeast from Ponta dos Rosais.

[1] Its location off the coast where open sea and currents meet means the area's diving conditions vary, being frequently turbulent.

[1][2] Sandy deposits from pyroclastic surges around the Baixa da Ponta dos Rosais create small areas favourable to congregating sea mammals and other marine species.

[5] Since June 1995 the Baixa—as part of the overall Ponta dos Rosais area—has also been protected through the European Environment Agency's Natura 2000 initiative under the Habitats Directive.