Buraco das Araras, Private natural heritage reserve in Jardim, Brazil
Buraco das Araras is a private nature reserve in Mato Grosso do Sul featuring a striking sandstone crater that forms a large natural sinkhole. Vertical walls enclose the crater, and a lagoon with a greenish tint sits at the bottom, supporting aquatic life within this geological formation.
This sandstone sinkhole was discovered in 1912 by a local worker who named it after the red macaws nesting in its walls. The discovery eventually led to the area being protected and formally recognized as a nature reserve.
The reserve holds meaning for the region as a protected space where visitors come to observe rare geological formations and the animals that inhabit them. Today it serves as a living laboratory where the importance of preserving such natural features becomes clear to everyone who visits.
A 900-meter trail circles the formation, offering two observation platforms where you can safely view the crater from above. Wear comfortable shoes and plan to visit during daylight hours when lighting is best for seeing into the depths.
Red macaws nest in the cliff walls below the water level, the bird species that gave this place its name and still breed there today. These birds are hard to spot since they live deep down, but make their presence known through their loud calls.
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