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Missão Velha
História
Aspectos Geológicos
Located in Sítio Cachoeira, 3km from the Municipality of Missão Velha, this
geosite is characterized by waterfalls, approximately 12 meters high,
formed by the Rio Salgado.
This geosite is inserted in the Municipal Natural Park of the Missão Velha /
Bioparque Waterfall (Law nº 002/02, Complementary Law nº 017/02) and in
the area of the Natural Monument Cachoeira do Rio Salgado (Decree nº
28.506 / 06).
History
The history of the Missão Velha Waterfall Geosite is related to the context
of the water shortage in the Sertão. For there was one of the few places
where you could find water all year round. As a landmark of great scenic
beauty, Geosite often draws attention to who passes through this point, and
is the cause of many legends and stories of incantations and deaths. There
are traces of indigenous populations in this place, dating back to prehistoric
times. It probably served as a place of ceremonies for these nomadic
peoples who did not usually settle on one point. At some distance from the
waterfall, there are remains of stone houses that refer to a first phase of
colonization of Cariri, from the seventeenth century. The Cachoeira, also is
mentioned with meeting point between cangaceiros, the bandits that
marked the history of the Sertão, in the beginning of century XX.
Geological Aspects
The sedimentary rock of this geosite is the sandstone of the Cariri
formation, with approximately 420 million years (Silurian Period). The
sandy sediments that originated this sandstone were deposited when the
region, which corresponds today to the south of Ceará, was invaded by
waters of a shallow sea, preceding the formation of the Araripe
Sedimentary Basin.