Serra de São José, Protected mountain range in Tiradentes, Brazil
Serra de São José is a protected mountain range spanning multiple municipalities with quartzite rock formations, cascading waterfalls, and hiking paths through changing terrain. The trails connect open hillsides with forested valleys, offering different elevation levels for various levels of walking experience.
The mountain range served as a center for diamond mining during the colonial period, with enslaved workers creating stone pathways that remain visible today. These routes and the region became connected to local resistance movements against Portuguese rule in the 1700s.
The Serra de São José takes its name from Saint Joseph and holds meaning for local communities through traditional routes and stories of diamond extraction from past centuries. The area functions as a place where residents and visitors connect with nature along paths shaped by generations of use.
The main starting point for walks is the central Largo das Forras, where marked trails begin. Sturdy footwear is advisable since paths go over rocky terrain and steep sections.
The region harbors an extraordinary diversity of dragonflies, with a significant portion of all species found across the entire state living in these forest areas. Conservation experts monitor these insects to track the health of water sources and ecosystems.
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