Chapada Diamantina National Park
Chapada Diamantina is a famous national reserve belonging to Brazil. It is located in the state of Bahia and covers a total area of 1,520 km2. Translated, the name of the park sounds like "diamond plateau" for the reason that these jewels were actually discovered here. This area ranks first among Brazil's most beautiful natural paintings. The peak of this mountainous area is a rock 1000 meters high.
The Shapada-Diamantina Nature Reserve was established in 1985. There are more than one ecosystem located here, including forest, cerrado and arid terrain.
The modern nature park is now visited by eco-tourism enthusiasts, whereas previously only jewel hunters could be found here.
The Shapada Diamantina National Reserve also includes towns where colonial buildings are located. It is in them that the memory of diamond mining lives, which put the whole country in the first place in jewelry production at the beginning of the twentieth century.
The main city that belongs to the Chapada Diamantina Nature Reserve is Lenzua, which is located 408 km from El Salvador. In its heyday, its population numbered in the range of 30 thousand people. This city was deserted with the discovery of diamonds in South Africa. Today, Lenzua is recognized as a national monument, as it represents the architecture of residential buildings of the XIX century.
Nowadays, the reserve attracts travelers from all over the world who are fans of eco-tourism. The local hiking trails were previously paved by "garimpeiros" - diamond seekers.
This area simply delights with its amazing natural landscapes. The park is also enticing by the fact that people still live here, even though they are old, but they remember and can tell a lot about the real diamond rush.
Tourists are happy to visit local caves, as well as waterfalls, where special trails lead. Almost all the bright routes originate from the town of Lens. The local waterfalls, among which Casoeira da Fumasa is the most famous, simply attract the eye. It has a height of 380 meters. There are several more waterfalls located here, which are the most beautiful in the whole country. The caves of Shapada Diamantina Park are also noteworthy, among which Lapa Doce and Pratinha stand out. The famous tourist route through the blue grottoes of Posu Encantado does not pass by.
This area also has legends that were told by the first colonists, as well as by the Indians who settled here sometime in the 1750s. Among them, there is one that tells about the Moro do Pai Inacio Mountain. A certain young man who fell in love with his master's daughter went far into the mountains to avoid the wrath of his beloved's father. But his father's soldiers caught up with him on a high cliff, from which the guy preferred to jump down and crash, but remain free. This rock was the mountain called Moro do Pai Inacio, from which modern tourists like to watch the wonderful evening sunset.
Shapada Diamantina National Park has a fairly diverse wildlife and flora. Many plants have taken root here, including wonderful orchids. The local fauna is represented by a large number of rodents, as well as felines that live high in the mountains.
