Guarantaani Aquifer, Underground water reservoir in South America, Brazil.
The Guarani Aquifer is an underground water reserve beneath parts of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Its sandstone layers reach depths of around 1,800 meters and form one of the largest freshwater sources in South America.
The formation of this vast underground water source began around 200 to 150 million years ago through sand deposits in rivers and deserts. Volcanic rock later covered large parts of the sand layers and sealed them for millions of years.
The aquifer received its name from the Guarani indigenous people who have inhabited the lands above this water reservoir for generations.
The water source supplies millions of people in the countries above with drinking water. Natural renewal through rainwater occurs mainly in areas where the ground is not covered by basalt.
A basalt layer shields around 90 percent of the area from pollution by surface water. In some places, warm water with temperatures around 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) rises to the surface and forms thermal springs.
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