Buraco das Araras (Goiás)

Buraco das Araras (Portuguese for Hole of the Macaws) is a cave located in Goias state, Brazil. It is about 120 kilometers west of Brasília in the municipality of Formosa. It is 126 meters deep.

Discovered in 1912, it is one of the largest sinkholes (dolinas) in the world. Inside the hole one finds lush tropical vegetation, ancient trees, volcanic rocks, and several species of animals like monkeys, wild cats and assorted birds. However, the macaws that gave the name to the site are no longer found there. A river forms a lake at the entrance of the cavern. There are no tourist conveniences and descent into the crater is dangerous.

Getting there

To reach it the traveler must travel 41 kilometers from Formosa, following BR-20 north as far as the village of Bezerra. Four kilometers after the settlement, one should turn left and drive on a dirt road for 7 kilometers and then turn left for two more kilometers.

References

• Buraco das Araras, Lajeado, and the Upper Itiquira