Gruta do Janelão, Höhle in Brasilien
Gruta do Janelão is a massive cave in northern Minas Gerais, part of the Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park. Inside are several large halls with formations on walls and ceilings, including the Perna da Bailarina, a stalactite about 28 meters long considered among the world's largest, along with natural ceiling openings that allow daylight to filter through.
The area was inhabited by people around 12,000 years ago, as evidenced by ancient paintings on cave walls. The Cavernas do Peruaçu National Park was established in the early 2000s and opened to visitors starting in 2016.
The name "Janelão" refers to the large natural openings in the cave ceiling that allow sunlight to stream inside. These light sources enable vegetation to grow within the cave, creating a unique environment that shapes how visitors experience and understand the space.
Visits require an authorized guide that should be arranged in advance, as visitor numbers are limited per day. The walks take about two hours and cover roughly 5 kilometers, with helmets and wooden bridges provided for safety.
The cave contains unexplored sections deeper inside that visitors cannot yet enter but are planned to be opened for future exploration. These hidden chambers hold mysteries that remain to be discovered.
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