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Breathtaking photographs showcase one of South America’s largest collections of caves

  • <p>These awe-inspiring images showcase the vast grandeur of one of South America’s most breathtaking collection of caves. Terra Ronca State Park in Sao Domingos, Brazil, is home to more than 60 caves, filled with stunning rock formations, giant stalagmites and stalactites, and flowing rivers. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa da Terra Ronca

    These awe-inspiring images showcase the vast grandeur of one of South America’s most breathtaking collection of caves. Terra Ronca State Park in Sao Domingos, Brazil, is home to more than 60 caves, filled with stunning rock formations, giant stalagmites and stalactites, and flowing rivers. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News)

  • <p>Despite there being so many caves in the area, only four are open to visitors: Lapa do Angelica, Lapa do São Mateus II, Lapa da Terra Ronca I and the system Lapa de Terra Ronca II –Malhada. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa do São Mateus, Terra Ronca State Park

    Despite there being so many caves in the area, only four are open to visitors: Lapa do Angelica, Lapa do São Mateus II, Lapa da Terra Ronca I and the system Lapa de Terra Ronca II –Malhada. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News)

  • <p>That leaves showcasing the more remote areas of the park up to cavers and photographers like Alexandre Lobo, Rafael Camargo and Daniel Menin. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa do São Mateus, Terra Ronca State Park

    That leaves showcasing the more remote areas of the park up to cavers and photographers like Alexandre Lobo, Rafael Camargo and Daniel Menin. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News)

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  • <p>According to photographer Daniel Menin: “[W]e still have many unknown underground places in the caves. To discover these places and being the first human to see and to register that at pictures and maps is a privilege.” (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa do São Mateus, Terra Ronca State Park

    According to photographer Daniel Menin: “[W]e still have many unknown underground places in the caves. To discover these places and being the first human to see and to register that at pictures and maps is a privilege.” (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News)

  • <p>One of the caves open to the public, Lapa da Terra Ronca, is split into two distinct areas and offers some of the best opportunity for photography in the area. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
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    Flowstones along the walls of Lapa da Terra Ronca

    One of the caves open to the public, Lapa da Terra Ronca, is split into two distinct areas and offers some of the best opportunity for photography in the area. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News)

  • <p>They have all visited the caves at different times over the past decade and each has respect for the work the others do in documenting these hidden wonders. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
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    Anglica cave entrance

    They have all visited the caves at different times over the past decade and each has respect for the work the others do in documenting these hidden wonders. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>Alexander, from Brasilia, said: “The size of these caves and the rare formations and rivers are very impressive. I like to bring the to the surface the wonders of the underground, and to show these wonders to people who don’t have access to caves.” (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
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    Exiting Lapa da Terra Ronca cave in a sunny morning

    Alexander, from Brasilia, said: “The size of these caves and the rare formations and rivers are very impressive. I like to bring the to the surface the wonders of the underground, and to show these wonders to people who don’t have access to caves.” (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News)

  • <p>Each year, Lapa da Terra Ronca also plays host to the annual religious ceremony Romaria do Bom Jesus da Lapa. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
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    Gelological fold in the Angelica cave

    Each year, Lapa da Terra Ronca also plays host to the annual religious ceremony Romaria do Bom Jesus da Lapa. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News)

  • <p>This pilgrimage, which lasts a week, ends with a feast at the cave entrance. Rafael, who currently lives in Berlin, said: “The Lapa da Terra Ronca is very well known, and the park was actually named after it.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa da Terra Ronca

    This pilgrimage, which lasts a week, ends with a feast at the cave entrance. Rafael, who currently lives in Berlin, said: “The Lapa da Terra Ronca is very well known, and the park was actually named after it.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News)

  • Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

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    Stay in the know at a glance with the Top 10 daily stories

  • <p>“The area has some hidden gems as well,” Rafael says. “There are many other cave systems or even just hidden galleries that few people know and where only cavers usually go.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News) </p>
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    Lapa do São Mateus, Terra Ronca State Park

    “The area has some hidden gems as well,” Rafael says. “There are many other cave systems or even just hidden galleries that few people know and where only cavers usually go.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News)

<p>These awe-inspiring images showcase the vast grandeur of one of South America’s most breathtaking collection of caves. Terra Ronca State Park in Sao Domingos, Brazil, is home to more than 60 caves, filled with stunning rock formations, giant stalagmites and stalactites, and flowing rivers. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
<p>Despite there being so many caves in the area, only four are open to visitors: Lapa do Angelica, Lapa do São Mateus II, Lapa da Terra Ronca I and the system Lapa de Terra Ronca II –Malhada. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
<p>That leaves showcasing the more remote areas of the park up to cavers and photographers like Alexandre Lobo, Rafael Camargo and Daniel Menin. (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
<p>According to photographer Daniel Menin: “[W]e still have many unknown underground places in the caves. To discover these places and being the first human to see and to register that at pictures and maps is a privilege.” (Photo: Alexandre Lobo/Caters News) </p>
<p>One of the caves open to the public, Lapa da Terra Ronca, is split into two distinct areas and offers some of the best opportunity for photography in the area. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
<p>They have all visited the caves at different times over the past decade and each has respect for the work the others do in documenting these hidden wonders. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
<p>Alexander, from Brasilia, said: “The size of these caves and the rare formations and rivers are very impressive. I like to bring the to the surface the wonders of the underground, and to show these wonders to people who don’t have access to caves.” (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
<p>Each year, Lapa da Terra Ronca also plays host to the annual religious ceremony Romaria do Bom Jesus da Lapa. (Photo: Rafael Camargo/Caters News) </p>
<p>This pilgrimage, which lasts a week, ends with a feast at the cave entrance. Rafael, who currently lives in Berlin, said: “The Lapa da Terra Ronca is very well known, and the park was actually named after it.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News) </p>
<p>“The area has some hidden gems as well,” Rafael says. “There are many other cave systems or even just hidden galleries that few people know and where only cavers usually go.” (Photo: Daniel Menin/Caters News) </p>
Yahoo News Photo Staff

These awe-inspiring images showcase the grandeur of one of South America’s most breathtaking collection of caves. Terra Ronca State Park in São Domingos, Brazil, is home to more than 60 caves, filled with stunning rock formations, giant stalagmites and stalactites, and flowing rivers.

Only four, however, are open to visitors: Lapa do Angelica, Lapa do Sao Mateus II, Lapa da Terra Ronca I and the system Lapa de Terra Ronca II – Malhada. For that reason, the documentation of the more remote areas of the park is up to cavers and photographers like Alexandre Lobo, Rafael Camargo and Daniel Menin. (Caters News)

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