Buraco das Araras, Quartzite cave in Formosa, Brazil
Buraco das Araras is a quartzite cave in Formosa with a depth of about 105 meters and width of around 295 meters. The interior features red stone walls with dense vegetation covering the ground and creates a striking geological formation.
The cave was officially discovered in 1912, when scientists determined that a massive roof collapse in the quartzite had created the formation. This collapse shaped the geological features visitors see today and marks a key point in understanding the site's origins.
The name comes from the macaws that inhabit the red stone walls and make their nests in the cave. These birds are a defining feature of the place and shape what visitors experience when they arrive.
The route to the cave runs about 80 kilometers from Brasilia to Formosa, then north on BR-020 toward Bezerra village and finally on dirt roads to the site. It is best to arrive in the morning when light enters the cave most effectively and when wildlife is most active.
The cave floor contains a special microclimate that supports primitive giant ferns found nowhere else in the region. These rare plants thrive only in the moist, sheltered conditions deep within the cave and represent an unexpected element for visitors to discover.
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