Wonderful Rock Formations at Brazil’s Valley of the Moon

The Valley of the Moon or locally known as Vale de Lua in the Brazilian Highlands is part of the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, which is located in the Brazilian state of Goias. It is located a few kms from the town of Sao Jorge. Today the park occupies only 1/10th of the actual area and is spread over an area of 65,515 ha (655 sq km).  This ancient plateau is believed to be a whopping 1.8 billion years old.

One can find the oldest rock formations available on planet earth here.  The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.  The place is famous the world over for flora and fauna and the breathtaking landscape.  Visitors are taken aback by the smooth grey rocks, which are believed to have been washed out over the ages by the magical waters of the mighty San Miguel River.

Another visible feature is the small craters in the rocks.  The reason behind this phenomenon is the friction of sand carried in the water.  Many believe the Valley of the moon is more of a work in progress, which implies it will still change further as a result of the constant shaping of the waters. Hence, no one knows what to expect a few years down the line.  The rainy season sees heavy downpours, which ensures the river never runs dry during the hot summer months.

As seen above the rock formations are amongst the oldest found in the world. There is quartz with outcrops of crystals.  These rocks are exported and appreciated in countries like England and Japan.  For some decades, they were even used for industrial work.  However, now nature lovers seek the power to cure from the crystals. Rock crystals are rich in the soil of the Cerrado or open pasture.  There is also a thick forest growth in the region and it is estimated to house 25 different species of orchids and other Brazilian species such as Copaíba (Copa Tree), Pau d’Arco Roxo and Babaçu (Babassu).  The main river of the park is the Rio Preto and there are a number of waterfalls such as Rio Preto Falls.

The park’s mineral rich rocks were exploited by miners many years ago.  However, they realized the area’s potential to be a nature sanctuary and as a result, today only 3% of the area is used for tourism purposes.  The remaining 97% areas are used for preservation and research purposes.

Climate wise, the average yearly temperature is between 24-26 degrees Celsius.  It ranges from a minimum of 4-8 degrees Celsius and reaches highs of 40-42 degrees Celsius. With altitudes between 600 and 1650 meters, the region ranks as the highest plain in Central Brazil.  The peak of the park and the Goias state is Serra da Santana, at 1691 meters above sea level.  This area possesses the greatest biodiversity and the rich fauna consists of many endangered species like the maned wolf, anteater, pampas deer, and many others.