REGION
CHAPADA DOS VEADEIROS
Chapada dos Veadeiros occupies an area of 927 mi2 of the Cerrado Biome, and is located in the northeast of the state of Goiás.
A sanctuary with its incredible fauna, flora, geological formations and the savanah with the biggest biodiversity on the planet.
It is the birthplace for 3 of the 4 largest hydrographic basins in the country, including the Bacia do Rio Tocantins-Araguaia (Tocantis-Araguaia River Basin), responsible for supplying the tributaries of the Rio Amazonas (Amazon River).
The region is also a magnet for mystics, attracted by the alleged properties of its crystal soil bed.
According to NASA, when seen from space, it shines like a mirror and is the brightest spot on Earth.
VEGETATION
The Cerrado Biome is the predominant type of vegetation, one of the oldest, most diversified and biologically rich in ecosystems on the planet. The trees are low and curved, isolated or in groups, and generally medium in size, amid lawns, similar to the vegetation of the African savanna.
HYDROGRAPHY
The Chapada is also known as the Waters Cradle due to the waterways of the Rio Preto (Black River), Tocantinzinho and its tributaries – Córrego Pissarrão, Ribeirão São Jorge, Rio dos Couros, Ribeirão São Miguel (which flows into the Rio Maranhão / Maranhão River), and the Macacão, São Bartolomeu and Rio das Pedras rivers, which together make up the Bacia do Paraná (Paraná Basin). As most river slopes fit into the ruptures of the slopes, the region gives birth to hundreds of waterfalls, many of which flow into river pools warm enough for relaxing baths.
FAUNA
The Cerrado fauna is a habitat for several species of animals, some of them threatened with extinction such as deers, jaguars, wolves, rheas, seriemas, armadillos, anteaters, capybaras, tapirs and toucans.
FLORA
With the growth of Goias forests, it is home for more than 25 species of orchids in addition to other brazilian species such as buriti, pau d’arco, copaíba, aroeira, mangueira, meriva, babalu and wild flowers in a variety of colors.
GEOLOGICAL FORMATION
It is one of the oldest rock formations on the planet, with an estimated age of 1.8 billion years. Multicolored quartz with outcrops of rock crystals present in the soil in open pasture.
The biodiversity of the Cerrado presents a great variety of plant species, being the largest tropical dry forest in the world. It is the second largest forest formation in Brazil, after the Amazon. It has more than 10,000 plant species, distributed in more than 600 different kinds.
CHAPADA DOS VEADEIROS NATIONAL PARK
The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park is located in the district of São Jorge, covering 3 municipalities: Alto Paraiso de Goiás, Cavalcante and Colinas do Sul.
With altitudes between 1,969 to 5,548 ft above sea level, it is the largest plain in Central Brazil. It is known for its scenic canyons, with walls up to 130 ft high and valleys up to 3,200 ft deep.
The main river in the Park is the Rio Preto, a tributary of the Rio Tocantins. There are many waterfalls along its course, such as Cachoeira do Rio Preto and Cachoeira das Cariocas.
It was created on January 11, 1961 by President Juscelino Kubitschek. Throughout its history, it has undergone several space reductions to reach 160,6 thousand acres, approximately 10% of the original size. Only a small part of the Park is open to the public. In 2017 on the World Environment Day, the Park was expanded by means of a decree, for 593 thousand acres.
In 2001, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the hope of protecting the original cerrado from the invasion of cattle, soybeans and biofuel agriculture.
It is maintained by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and preserves an impressive wealth for scientific research and environmental education.
Thirty years after established, began the process of effective inspection of the area. Camping inside the conservation unit was prohibited and guides were trained to assist visitors. Upon arriving at the Reception Center, the tourist receives guidance on the options for tours and can choose one of the two trails: canyons and rocks or waterfalls.
Usually the hike lasts around five hours and passes through imposing waterfalls, irregular canyons and natural pools. Then, the undergrowth opens and the visitor is confronted by a spectacular view over a vast ancient plateau.
ALTO PARAISO DE GOIAS
Located in Chapada dos Veadeiros, Alto Paraiso is a small town of 1.6 mi2 located 143 mi northeast of the federal capital, Brasilia; and 261 km from the state capital, Goiania, on GO-118 Highway. The city is much more cosmopolitan than its relatively small size suggests. It attracts adventurers from all over the planet, spiritualists of various philosophies and environmentalists who want to explore the secret and different place. In recent years, the city has become an example for the growth of ecotourism in most of Brazil. It is home to more than 30 different nationalities.
The district of Sao Jorge and the small rural area of Moinho also belong to the city. The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park includes 5% of the total area of the municipality. Most of the urban area is in the Hydrographic Basin of the Bartolomeu River.
CLIMATE
Alto Paraiso is the highest city in the state of Goias with altitude varying from 3,871.4 to 4,173.2 ft above sea level. It has a pleasant tropical mountain climate, defined by two main seasons: summer, rainy and cold, from October to April; and winter, dry and hot, from May to mid-September. The average annual temperature is 24 to 26°C, varying from 4 to 8°C. The maximum can reach 40 to 42°C. Lower temperatures can easily reach 7°C in winter, and the highest temperatures reach 24°C at the same time of year. It is common to have large temperature differences in winter. In summer, the lowest temperatures reach 15°C. Because of climate change on the planet these seasons are gradually changing.
HISTORY
The history of Alto Paraiso dates back to the middle of the 18th century, when the first cattle farm was created by Francisco de Almeida. The first settlers raised cattle and planted wheat, due to the altitude and the colder climate of the region. In 1938 Veadeiros appeared as a district of Cavalcante and was emancipated in 1953, to form a new municipality. The city was named Alto Paraiso de Goias in 1963. The economy is currently based on agriculture, tourism and services. The city contains six neighborhoods defined from different evolutionary stages of the city.
The name Veadeiros comes from the large number of red deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) that inhabited the region.
The first records of human occupation in the region are of indigenous tribes such as the Cayapos, the Xavantes and the Goyazes which, later, originated the name of the state. The bandeirantes later came in search of gold mines and fugitive slaves (kalungas). They started the mining cycle around Chapada dos Veadeiros. Mining led to the emergence of Cavalcante in 1740.
At this time Alto Paraiso de Goias was still called Veadeiros and belonged to Cavalcante. In the mid-18th century, the first cattle ranch was created by Francisco de Almeida thus creating a small colonization nucleus. Due to the high altitude and colder climate of the region, the first settlers were dedicated to raising cattle and planting wheat. In 1938 Veadeiros was considered a district of Cavalcante, emancipated in 1953.
It is said that in the place where Ary Ribeiro Valadao Filho Avenue is located today, one could observe several deer grazing all day, in addition to wolves, emus, jaguars and ocelots. In 1963 the old Veadeiros changed its name to Alto Paraíso de Goias.
Agriculture and livestock developed from the foundation of Veadeiros in order to meet the demand generated by the discovery of gold in Cavalcante. The farms of Francisco de Almeida, Firmino de Almeida Salermo, José Pereira Barbosa and Manuel Caboclo generated the first settlement in the region, in the mid-18th century. These farms continued the colonization process based on the cultivation of fruits, corn, coffee and livestock.
Fazenda Iluminada is located at 3.5 miles from Alto Paraiso de Goias city, Goias state, Brazil. Great for families, friends, retreats and those interested in immersing in a healing experience in nature at the Chapada dos Veadeiros.
