Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park

Lore & Background

The Chapada dos Veadeiros region was first developed around the gold rush in the 18th century. Cavalcante was one of the first villages founded and at one point became one of Brazil's major gold extractors. Some reports say that Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil visited Cavalcante, making it the capital of the Empire for a day. The necessity of slave labor to work the mines was so great that the region is now home to some of the biggest Quilombo communities in Brazil.

The Quilombos are communities of Afro-Brazilians who escaped from slavery, both from agricultural plantations and mines. The Quilombo communities of Chapada dos Veadeiros include a subgroup known as the Kalungas. The word Kalunga derives from a Kimbundu word meaning 'sacred place' or 'great water,' and the term is now a term of pride for the Kalunga group. With the end of the golden period of mining, the region had only an isolated collection of villages; they were rediscovered and engaged in tourism to support Kalunga communities.

The park's rock formations are among the oldest on the planet, with quartz outcrops of crystals exported and appreciated in Japan and England. The main river is the Rio Preto, a tributary of the Tocantins River, with many waterfalls along its course, including the Rio Preto Falls (120 meters high, 80 meters at the base). The park is noted for its scenic canyons with walls up to 40 meters high and valleys up to 300 square meters deep.

Reader's Guide

Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park holds significance as a protected area preserving one of the oldest geological formations on Earth, with an estimated age of 1.8 billion years. Its creation in 1961 by President Juscelino Kubitschek and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 underscore its global importance for biodiversity and geological heritage. The park's rich cerrado ecosystem supports diverse fauna, including threatened species such as the pampas deer, marsh deer, maned wolf, and jaguar, as well as flora including over 25 species of orchids. The region's history is deeply tied to the 18th-century gold rush, which led to the establishment of Quilombo communities, particularly the Kalungas, who have transformed from isolated villages to tourism-focused groups. The park's waterfalls, quartz crystals, and high-altitude plains make it a notable destination for ecotourism and scientific study. Its legacy includes the preservation of Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage and the conservation of a unique plateau ecosystem in Central Brazil.

Did You Know?

• The highest point of the park is Pouso Alto peak, at 1,676 meters above sea level, which is also the highest point in the state of Goiás.
• The Kalunga subgroup of Quilombo communities derives its name from a Kimbundu word meaning 'sacred place' or 'great water,' now a term of pride.
• The park's rock crystals have been exported and appreciated in Japan and England for industrial work.

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