Earth:Gruta das Areias
Gruta das Areias is a complex of caverns located in the region of Lajeado, in the municipality of Iporanga, São Paulo, Brazil . It is therefore part of the Areias System, located in the southwestern part of the carbonatic area Lajeado-Bombas, on the right bank of the Betari river, in the municipality of Iporanga, southeast of the state.[1] It comprises the caves Ressurgência das Areias (SP-016), the 5.565 meter-long cave Areias de Cima (SP-018) and the Areias de Baixo (SP-019) cave, also popularly called Areias I and II.[2] It is also part of the so-called Açungui group of caverns formed between the Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic, between 1.6 billion and 539 million years ago.[1]
Survey
Discovered in 1906 by the German naturalist Richard Krone, who visited both caves called at that time Areias do Pedroso I and Areias do Pedroso II, the cave is very important in the field of biology because of the existence of the world-famous Pimelodella kronei, the Blind-Catfish, a troglobitic fish species unique to the waters of some caves in the region.[3]
This species of fish was later found in some creeks in the region of Bombas,[2] and invariably shaped the idea of a subterrain river connecting both caves with Ressurgencia das Areias das Aguas Quentes. A topographic survey led by Michel Le Bret took place in 1960, and again in 1968, conducted by the Sociedade Excursionista e Espeleológica de Ouro Preto.[2] On both occasions this connection between the caves Areias de Baixo and Ressurgencia das Areias das Aguas Quentes suggested by Richard Krone in 1909 could not be established. In 1974 a new attempt took place, but failed. The connection was only possible in 1975 when Pierre Martin used fluorescein dye in the stream found inside the cave Areias de Baixo.[2]
See also
- List of caves in Brazil
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Grupo Pierre Martin de Espeleologia. "Teto Baixo, Ano I, Vol. I". GPME. http://www.gpme.org.br/documentos/cat_view/18-periodicos-publicados-pelo-gpme/2-teto-baixo. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Grupo Pierre Martin de Espeleologia. "Topografia das Areias de Baixo". http://www.gpme.org.br/documentos/cat_view/42-carste-ebec-encontro-brasileiro-de-estudos-do-carste/27-carste-2009-iii-encontro-brasileiro-de-estudos-do-carste-ufscar-sao-carlos-sp. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ↑ Guia de Cachoeiras. "Gruta das Areias". Guia de Cachoeiras. http://www.guiadecachoeiras.com.br/pontos_turisticos.php?cod_ponto=967&cod_tipo=2&cod_cidade=62. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
External links
- Base de Dados do Ministerio do Meio Hambiente Governo Federal - ICMBIO Official Website
- [1] Grupo Pierre Martin de Espeleologia - GPME Official Website
[ ⚑ ] 24°35′22″S 48°42′07″W / 24.589376°S 48.701858°W
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