Serra da Capivara National Park
Brazil is a country of amazing natural attractions. But even in this unique state, you can find absolutely stunning places, for example, the Serra da Capivara Nature Park. It is famous for its picturesque canyons, the beauty of which is breathtaking even for sophisticated travelers, the only cave paintings in the world made in blue colors, the secret of which has not yet been solved by scientists, and the abundance of representatives of unusual flora and fauna.
Rock paintings
Initially, Serra da Capivara was planned as a national park designed to save the unique ecosystem of the Brazilian savannah. The caves were discovered completely by accident and immediately attracted the attention of archaeologists. Research conducted in a unique underground city has led to the conclusion that the first inhabitants of America appeared on the continent more than 50 thousand years ago (previously it was assumed that people came to this area no earlier than 13 thousand years ago). Most of the rock carvings are so artfully executed that initially art historians considered them high-quality imitations applied to the rocks at a much later period, however, the examination proved that the age of the paintings dates back from 1.5 to 32 thousand years. Due to the dry climate, the "paintings" were preserved almost perfectly, telling the descendants of the first settlers about the life of primitive people.
Today, the unique open-air museum can provide more than 900 zones for exploring, introducing travelers to the habitats of ancient tribes, the first tools of labor and everyday life, clothing and jewelry of those times. Of course, it is impossible to get around all these historical sites within even a few trips, so the leadership of the Serra da Capivara Park has developed 14 tourist routes passing through the most interesting places of the park. These routes cover 64 of the most interesting archaeological sites, including Veadinhos Azuis (Blue Deer), where there are unique blue rock carvings. Toca do Citio do Mayo houses the oldest ceramic objects in America, dating back about 9,000 years.
Flora and fauna
Wildlife lovers will be able to appreciate the beauty of tropical forests and get to know their inhabitants better. Capuchins, "false vampires" (represented by giant bats), giant armadillos, and rocky guinea pigs attract the special attention of travelers. The biggest predator in the Serra da Capivara Park is the jaguar. In total, 33 species of mammals, more than 200 species of birds, and 24 species of bats have been recorded in Serra da Capivara Park. It is worth noting the capuchin monkeys living in the park, because they are the only ones of their kind who use wooden and stone tools to get food. They also use various objects to communicate and threaten.
The kingdom of flora is represented by Cerrado forests and unique candelabra cacti. All this green splendor covers flat plateaus and deep canyons, gracefully climbing ancient cliffs. Most shrubs shed their leaves during a drought, and plants almost completely disappear until the rains begin.
In 2018, a one-of-a-kind Nature Museum was opened in the park, providing an opportunity to witness such large-scale events as the appearance of our common home or the onset of the Ice Age. Modern technologies make it possible to study the history of Brazil and the whole Earth with the help of virtual reality glasses, and light, sound and laser effects that immerse visitors in the distant past add additional verisimilitude to any excursion.
Serra da Capivara is open to the public throughout the year, but June-December is considered the most pleasant time to explore.
