Caverna da Tapagem

Caverna da Tapagem

Partial view of one of the stairways inside the Devil's Cave.
Location São Paulo, Brazil
Depth 175 meters (574 ft)[1]
Length 6,237 meters (20,463 ft)[1]
Discovery 1891
Geology Limestone
Access SP 193
Cave survey 3,200 meters (10,500 ft) surveyed
Website Portal Caverna do Diabo

Caverna da Tapagem (English: Hurdle's Cave) (SP-002), also Caverna do Diabo (English: Devil's Cave), is a cave located within the Jacupiranga State Park next to the Alto Ribeira State and Tourist Park, in the municipality of Eldorado Paulista, Iporanga, 280 km from São Paulo, Brazil. It is the second longest cave in the state of São Paulo and also the highlight of what the local guides call "Circuit Disneyland," which is a series of family attractions that people of all ages can enjoy.[2]

Description

The beginning of the formation of the cave is pointed out by researchers as occurred about 600 million years ago, during the Precambrian era. Today almost 10 km of galleries and halls have already been mapped, all rich in speleothems.[3] Of the 6.237 meters of the cave whose entrance measures approximately 40 meters high, 3.200 meters have already been surveyed, of which only 700 meters are free for tourists.[1] It measures 152 deep from one side of the cave to the other. All this area has a sound system and lighting, walkways, stairs and handrails for safety measures.

The cave contains numerous stone curtains, columns, towers, travertine, stalactites, stalagmites and calcite cascades which intrigue specialists and tourists who try to unravel the mysteries of the place. At times, to overcome obstacles, it is necessary to use ropes to be sure of standing on safe ground. Inside the cave, the silence is broken only by the waters that glide over the rocks.[2] The most interesting formations can be seen in the hall known as "The Cathedral". Some of these forms were immortalized with names somewhat strange like the Guardian, Snow White,[4] Cemetery, Three Kings, Temple of Doom, Devil's Cauldron and Tower of Pisa. Each group of tourists is formed of 12 visitors, at intervals of 20 minutes between them, and each one is allowed to stay no longer than 60 minutes inside the cave.[5]

Legends

Discovered in 1886 by the explorer Sigismund Ernst Richard Krone,[1] the cave was then named Caverna da Tapagem, meaning "mysterious place".[6] Some legends were responsible for the appearance of the most popular pseudonym Devil's Cave around 1964,[7] for the Indians who inhabited the vicinity of the cave believed that if they were hit by drops of water from the ceiling, they would be then transformed into stone. To them, the strange geological formations which called their attention were in fact people and other animals that had been petrified by the constant dripping in the cave.[7] Those who later inhabited the site, also believed that the noises heard at the entrance of the cave were groans of lost souls who had been punished by the devil.[7]

See also

Gallery

Pictures of some of the formations inside the Devil's Cave
Inside the Devil's Cave. 
Another view of the cave. 
Partial view of the Tower of Pisa. 
Stalactites formed inside the cave. 
Another view of the cave. 

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fundespa (2007). Comite da Bacia Hidrografica do Ribeira do Iguape e Litroral Sul (PDF). Fundacao de Estudos de Pesquisas Aquaticas. p. 57.
  2. 1 2 Portal do GESP. "Caverna do Diabo é reaberta para turistas". Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  3. ↑ Biblioteca Virtual. "Circuito das Cavernas". Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  4. ↑ Museu Nacional (1909). Archivos do Museu Nacional do Rio de Janeiro, Vol. 15. Cysneiros & Cia.
  5. ↑ PETAR. "Caverna do Diabo". PETAR Online. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  6. ↑ Edmilton Alves Gonçalves, José Luís Perucio (2001). Guia Parques de São Paulo. Villipres. p. 119. ISBN 85-7473-069-6.
  7. 1 2 3 Guia de Cachoeiras. "Gruta da Tapagem ou Caverna do Diabo". Guia de Cachoeiras. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
Attribution

Coordinates: 24°37′33″S 48°24′17″W / 24.62583°S 48.40472°W / -24.62583; -48.40472

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