Final month, two zones in Brazil’s southernmost state had been acknowledged by Unesco as World Geopark areas: Quarta Colônia and Caçapava do Sul, each in Rio Grande do Sul.
“Geoparks are territories outlined by Unesco as areas which have a geological, geomorphological or paleontological heritage of worldwide relevance and which might use stated heritage as a component to facilitate regional growth,” explains Dr Adriano Severo Figueiró of the Federal College of Santa Maria (UFSM), who was a part of the group that proposed the areas for this designation.
Whereas the 2 parks are solely a two-hour drive other than one another, every has distinctive parts that make it a super catalyst for regional growth. Each of them are unbelievable websites to go to in your travels to Brazil.
Among the oldest rocks on Earth
“Caçapava do Sul has a geomorphological uniqueness,” explains Dr André Borba, searching throughout the succession of 500 million-year-old rock formations for which the park is legendary. A professor of geoscience at UFSM and integral member of the Geopark’s analysis group, Borba has a ardour for this a part of the world that’s greater than evident. “These formations had been right here earlier than any residing factor, animal or plant, existed on this earth,” Borba marvels.
“What’s actually particular is that these rocks are uncovered in a collection of exceptionally stunning mountain ranges and hills, making a unbelievable scenic magnificence, particularly within the Serra da Guaritas and the Serra do Secreto.”
Borba is correct. The Serra do Segredo is really spectacular. Its namesake rock, the Pedra do Segredo (Secret Rock) is 120m (394ft) tall, and presents a comparatively simple, hour-long path to discover. You’ll hike by way of the primary caverns, ending up on the well-known Portal do Segredo (Secret Portal), a cave within the excessive heart of the mountain that opens to a panoramic view over the encircling hills.
Waking up on the onsite campground, you’ll have quick access to the Serra do Segredo and its spectacular sunrises. The realm can also be recognized for its outside climbing routes and is among the principal factors within the nation for dangle gliding and paragliding.
Discover the Geoparks extra deeply with a information
For those who’re trying to climb increased – say, to the highest of the Pedra do Segredo – or to take trails to a few of the additional outposts, comparable to Toca das Carretas or Pedra Furada, you’ll want a information. Most of the trails stay unmarked, as a lot of them sit on personal lands. Indigenous tribes and quilombos name the area dwelling, as do household farms and cattle ranches.
On this means, Geoparks are completely different from nationwide parks. They typically don’t have any set delineation, could also be managed by personal entities and may embrace privately owned lands. The official Unesco designation helps native communities to determine and extra deeply recognize their distinctive pure environment and assets, and to create sustainable income fashions that instantly profit from conservation efforts.
An artisan connection
Dr Elisângela Lopes da Silva was a part of the group that spearheaded the Geopark venture and the Unesco designation. Her contribution revolves round tourism growth by way of the work of native artisans.
“Whereas I used to be engaged on my PhD, I acquired to know the feminine artisans of the area after we nonetheless had the Municipal Heart for Artisans,” she says. “I observed there was one thing lacking [that] related artisan work with tourism within the area.”
Initially a forest ranger and researcher, Dr Lopes da Silva managed to bridge the hole between the park and native artists with a co-op store and atelier referred to as Com Arte Atelier, positioned inside Caçapava do Sul’s metropolis limits.
“I felt we would have liked to higher perceive how native artisans view the pure great thing about the area, how they relate to it and the way they interpret it.”
What she discovered was that many artists and artisans of the area didn’t really know the park zone very effectively.
“We have to higher know the place first, after which we are able to develop our work from there,” stated Nara Portella, artwork educator and native creator. “We’re nonetheless engaged on creating a neighborhood id.”
The place the dinosaurs roamed
In Quarta Colônia, such an id is extra apparent. Though it too is replete with rivers and waterfalls, the Quarta Colônia Geopark is greatest recognized for the plethora of dinosaur fossils discovered inside its territories, a few of them over 230 million years previous. Scientists have even found beforehand unknown species on the website.
“Within the area of Quarta Colônia, specifically, we’ve got data of some which might be the oldest dinosaurs on the earth,” says Flávio Pretto, paleontologist on the the Centro de Apoio à Pesquisa Paleontológica (CAPPA). “We even have an entire collection of different animals that coexisted with them.”
In accordance with Pretto, the Geopark designation will assist to help the analysis heart and its mission, whereas concurrently selling schooling amongst native college students, the group and vacationers alike.
“Our work is intimately associated to the group. This was one of many causes CAPPA was created,” Pretto explains. The group’s formation, along with the Unesco imprimatur, helps be sure that any fossils discovered inside the park’s territories can stay inside the group.
In accordance with Dr Rosemar de Fátima Vestena, a professor at Franciscana College and CAPPA researcher, prior vital fossil findings had been shipped off for research at universities in different states. Now, with the Geopark standing, “our materials can be studied right here and can keep right here, and our college students from the area will be capable to profit from it being right here.”
With guests starting from three to 83 years previous, the CAPPA analysis heart works to teach the encircling residents of all ages, thus deepening its scientists’ paleontological work.
“One of many heart’s latest main finds wasn’t unearthed by paleontologists,” says Pretto. “It was discovered by a farmer. A farmer and a carpenter. And because of the truth that they knew that it may be a fossil, as a result of our instructional work locally, they managed to achieve out to us, and it ended up being a discovery of 4 virtually full skeletons of a beforehand undiscovered dinosaur species.”
Tips on how to go to Brazil’s new Geoparks
The city of Caçapava do Sul gives an ideal base for exploring the park of the identical title; Guaritas Hostel Rural is a dependable lodging possibility. Or you possibly can camp onsite at Pedra do Segredo Municipal Park ($6.30 per day; advance reserving and tents required). Guided hikes of different trails requires advance reserving and varies in value, relying on the variety of hikers.
