Gruta do Lapão
Description
Unlike most caves in Chapada Diamantina, which are made of limestone, Lapão is a quartzite cave rich in iron. With an imposing portal 42 meters high and 64 meters wide, the Gruta do Lapão has the largest "mouth" of a sandstone cave in Brazil. In addition to its beauty, the cave has great scientific importance, housing rare, fragile, and still little-studied speleothems (rock formations typical of caves). Lapão was explored by miners from 1845 to 1871, as it was rich in diamonds and carbonate. There is also an important climbing sector on the cliffs around the cave entrance, with over 50 established routes of varying grades.
Guidelines
Extension: 4.3 Km
Access status: Open 
Difficulty Easy 
Orientation Moderate
Signaling Level NonExistent
Conservation Bad
Risk Exposure Medium
Sun Exposure High
Hydration Point Unavailable
Climbing No climbing required
Minimum Altitude: 553m Maximum Altitude: 627m 
Negative Unevenness: 56m 
Positive Unevenness: 92m Tips
Not provided in this language
Map
Guidelines
Extension: 4.3 KmDifficulty: EasyOrientation: ModerateSignaling Level: NonExistentMinimum Altitude: 553m Maximum Altitude: 627m Negative Unevenness: 56m Positive Unevenness: 92m 
