Morro do Careca, Sand dune in Ponta Negra, Brazil.
Morro do Careca is a sand dune in Ponta Negra that rises to 120 meters above the shoreline with a complex structure. The formation includes a forested base at ground level, exposed sand slopes in the middle, and patches of natural plants along its edges.
Until the 1990s, visitors slid down the dune on wooden boards in a popular activity called skibunda, which shaped its recreational history. After that period, environmental protections took over and public access became limited to preserve the site.
The name Morro do Careca comes from the dune's bare peak, which looks like a bald head to locals. This description has become the defining feature by which people recognize and refer to the place.
Access to the dune is now restricted by environmental protections, so visitors cannot climb or walk on it freely. It is best viewed from designated viewpoints at ground level or from nearby beaches where you can see it from a distance.
Despite being close to the busy Ponta Negra beach area, the dune has remained protected as a natural reserve and shows how the original shoreline has changed little. This makes it a valuable record of what the region's coast looked like before urban development.
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