The Brazilian Desert That Turns Into a Thousand Lagoons These otherworldly landscapes are no mirage. For the Quinault Indian Nation, restoring their fisheries is a multi-generation project. In 2018, travel influencer Thiago Lopez, who is no stranger to the crystal clear bodies of water formed at the sand dunes, shared a video of himself running down a dune and diving into a turquoise lagoon on Instagram. Winner will be selected at random on 02/01/2021. Fish and bugs aren’t the only residents. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. See. Yet closer inspection quickly reveals pools of water among the ridged hills of sand, lining the landscape with their rich hues of green and blue. 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Rainwater fills these sandy white dunes which creates beautiful lagoons The rainwater that collects between the sand dunes paints a stunning landscape covered in thousands of crystal clear lagoons.SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/vR6AcbThis story is a part of our Planet Earth series. Photo #8 by Sylvain Bourdos Flipping for Lençois Maranhenses where the area gets over 300 times more rain than the great Sahara desert in Africa. The National Park of Lençóis Maranhenses is located in the Northeast of Brazil, in the state of Maranhão. EMAIL. EMAIL. Tannins from decaying vegetation stain the river’s waters to the color of tea, coffee, or a redder substance. Gruta Lago Azul is around 20 kilometers far from the center of Bonito, in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Without a guide, one can get lost easily in the vast territory of drifts that can reach over 65 feet in height. A layer of rock hidden beneath the sand stops the water from percolating, instead capturing the rainfall to form countless stunning pockets. Located in the Brazilian state of Maranhão, the national park is inundated with rainstorms from January to June of every year. This journey will guide you on a voyage through the soft sand dunes and turquoise crystal lagoons, decorating the desert landscape as … Beyond the modern sky scrapers and bustling streets, lies an untouched oasis. The blue and green patches reach their peak in July, with some reaching 300 feet long and deep enough for swimming. Duration: 00:28 4/14/2020. But for six months of the year, crystal blue lagoons turn the arid region into a cool summer hot spot. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. Lençóis Maranhenses Trekking the dunes, lagoons & desert trails - 6 Days Come with us to faraway places as we explore our great big planet and meet some of its wildest inhabitants. But it definitely looks like one, therefore, the lagoons add up to the uniqueness of the park. From skin to sourdough, jenipapo blue has become a culinary craze. Jewels in the Brazilian crown, those infinite sand dunes scattered with crystal clear water lagoons, at some 6 miles from São Luís, are located in The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil. All rights reserved. Duration: 00:28 4/15/2020. They’re only a few feet deep, so most watersports can’t use them. Lençóis Maranhenses Trekking the dunes, lagoons & desert trails - 6 Days Explore the scenic highlights of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park . Atlas Obscura and our trusted partners use technology such as cookies on our website to personalise ads, support social media features, and analyse our traffic. Tannins color the water of the Rio Negro as it flows across and around the white dunes of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. With large expanses of sweeping sand dunes, Lençóis Maranhenses might appear to be your average desert. But for six months of the year, crystal blue lagoons turn the arid region into a cool summer hot spot. Just like every other attraction in Bonito, this tour is also very organized. The Brazilian desert lagoons In Lençóis Maranhenses National Park! Here’s everything you need to know about getting there. Protected on June 2, 1981, the 155,000 ha park includes 70 km of coastline, and an interior composed of rolling sand dunes. Once the rainy season ends, the lagoons begin to evaporate in the equatorial heat; their water level may drop by as much as three feet a month. Brazilian desert lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are only around during the rainy season. The sand formations and lagoons of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are a rare geological phenomenon that have been in the making for thousands of years. These sheets consist of a desert about 63 mile long and 32 mile wide, alongside the Atlantic to the North, and surrounded by tropical forests to the South. This Brazilian desert lagoon is so dreamy. These Brazilian desert lagoons appear and disappear every year Farafra (Egypt): the white desert. SHARE. No purchase necessary. From mammals to insects and birds to reptiles, we share this great big world with all manner of creatures, large and small. Strong winds and rain transform the land as rainwater fills the valleys between the dunes, creating a surreal lacework of thousands of seemingly miraculous lagoons between ribbons of sand. The region was declared a national park in 1981 and spreads across the center of the coastline, totaling an … The Brazilian Desert That Turns Into a Thousand Lagoons. This Brazilian desert lagoon is so dreamy. Come July, the stark white sand dunes of the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park turn, miraculously, into an oasis of countless emerald-blue lagoons. Located in the Brazilian state of Maranhao, the national park is inundated with rainstorms from January to June of every year. But wakeskaters only need a little bit of water to pull of their tricks. SHARE. Long after the forest stops burning, the effects of this year's fires will linger in the soil and water. These Brazilian desert lagoons appear and disappear every year. A sandy scenery is not a desert, though. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. These lagoons give a miraculous view! TWEET. In the Lençois Maranhenses National Park near São Luís, there are real dunes. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a national park located in Maranhão state in northeastern Brazil, just east of the Baía de São José. With some crucial backup from a four-wheeler. During the dry season, it’s not hard to see how Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park got its snoozy name. But, what stops these collections of fresh water from being absorbed into the earth? The Brasilian desert, Barreirinhas and Atins were must-see on our budget Brazilian trip. Brazil. Brazilian desert lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are only around during the rainy season. Offer subject to change without notice. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Because of the unique nature of the park's dunes, the desert can only be approached by foot, and only the aerial view will give you the most complete picture of this unusual landscape that resembles huge snowdrifts. © 2021 Atlas Obscura. by Winnie Lee July 16, 2020 Tannins color the … Introducing Lençóis Maranhenses, an ATV tour of Brazil’s northern coast that includes at least one lagoon-filled desert, taking reservations now. SHARE. SHARE. The landscape resembles a desert, with dunes up to 40 meters high and beautiful green and blue lagoons making up an incredible scenery. Hundreds and hundreds of lagoons in every direction, accessible only by foot. To learn more or withdraw consent, please visit our cookie policy. Rainwater pools in the valleys between the dunes creating thousands of crystal clear lagoons. The bedsheets go clean again until next year’s rains. https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/nature-travel/brazilian-dunes-pools And yes, you can swim in them (the water can reach a soothing 87 degrees). Every year, during Brazil’s rainy season, visitors at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park can get a taste of the country’s desert lagoons. Rainwater fills these sandy white dunes which creates beautiful lagoons At first glance, the miles of sand can make Lençóis Maranhenses look like a typical parched desert. One of its most stunning views is that of the lagoons, which form between sand dunes during the rain as the water is collected. A main geographic attraction of Farafra is its White Desert (known … Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] comFollow us behind the scenes on Instagram: http://goo.gl/2KABeXMake our acquaintance on Facebook: http://goo.gl/Vn0XIZGive us a shout on Twitter: http://goo.gl/sY1GLYCome hang with us on Vimeo: http://goo.gl/T0OzjVVisit our world directly: http://www.greatbigstory.com Sand dunes in Brazil? When you first see it, Lençóis Maranhenses in northeastern Brazil appears much like a typical desert: sand – and lots of it. Red Bull joins wakeskaters Zuzana Vrablova and Brian Grubb as the explore the stunning Lençóis Maranhenses lagoons. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. In July, when the park's lagoons are at their peak, … Lagoons Among Dunes: Brazil’s Disappearing Desert Oases - YouTube With large expanses of sweeping sand dunes, Lençóis Maranhenses might appear to be your average desert. The shells may have once pointed the way to freedom. I was pretty excited to go on this tour, as I have visited similar caves in Chapada Diamantina – another stunning region that you can visit in Brazil. These Brazilian desert lagoons appear and disappear every year With large expanses of sweeping sand dunes, Lençóis Maranhenses might appear to be your average desert. These tamarins have an affinity for disturbed rain forest. The tiny lagoons are scattered across huge sand dunes in the Brazilian desert. Got a story idea for us? TWEET. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. SHARE. Lençóis maranhenses is Portuguese for “bedsheets of Maranhão,” referring to a state in the northeast of the country and its endlessly undulating, whipped cream-white landscape—the largest field of sand dunes in South America. The tropical beauty of Dois Rios comes with an ugly history. SHARE. But this vista is located close to the Amazon Basin and gets drenched for four months of the year with intense rainfall. Located in the north of Brazil is Lençóis Maranhenses national park, the main reason for tourists to venture to the lesser-known state of Maranhão. Eventually the rains end, the dry season returns, and the tropical sun dries up the magical patchwork. Dunes, Lagoons & Desert Trekking Venture out into Brazil's hidden world of wonders! The two most famous lagoons for swimming in this Brazilian Sahara are called Lagoa Azul (Blue Lagoon) and Lagoa Bonita (Beauty Lagoon). Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Maranhão, Brazil Known as the desert lagoons found among the sandy dunes, these natural wonders attract visitors from July to September. From above, the dark fingers of the Rio Negro look like arteries, bleeding abstract patterns out into the white sand. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Please click below to consent to the use of this technology while browsing our site. During the rainy season, freshwater pools form between them. During the rainy season, the valleys among the dunes fill with freshwater lagoons, prevented from draining due to the impermeable rock beneath. intheknow.com. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. These freshwater lagoons also can be linked when rivers, such as the Rio Negro, snake their way through the dunes. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is a Park (since 1981) in north east Brazil, (The name Lencois Maranhenses translates as “The bed sheets of Maranhão”) Lençóis Park is known for it’s bizarre phenomena: Blue lagoons which appear to sprite out of the desert’s sand dunes (even though it’s not actually a desert – there is too much rain to call this place a desert). Lagoa Azul and Lagoa Bonita are two of the biggest lagoons in the park. 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