Marimbas

Yesterday we went for about a forty minute drive from Lençois to the wetlands Marimbus. Here we picked up life jackets Ina little village. This is an area that the slaves fled to and hid from their masters. We then were taken by canoe for a ninety minute journey through the wetlands to O Cacarão, a farm on the other side of the wetlands. This is a Poinsiana tree in the village.

Rock rats

There are some very large rats that live on the mesa, and we had also seen them on .noronha. They use the thick leaves od this plant to create a nest.

Flowers on mesa

There were some stunning flowers on the top of the Mesa including some delicate orchids, and also some of the large orchids.

On the summit

Wild passion fruit flower on the Mesa

Morro Di Pai Inaçia

Late in the afternoon we ascended a Mesa in the centre of the Chapada Diamantina park. The views were superb in all directions. The area had been a diamond mine in the 1800s. the mines had deaf forested the whole region to gain better access to the terrain. In the 1960s it was declared a nature reserve and reafforestation has begun. The terrain protected versus unprotected is clearly visible as the vegetation is returning to the protected areas. There are apparently three kinds of jaguars that live in the park.

Gruta Azul

We then followed the Blue river around and viewed this deep blue pool. It was so still and tranquil. As we adjusted to the light the intensity of the blue increased.