#2: [22-Oct-05]

18-Jan-2006 -- Coming from Lagoa Vermelha, we approached the confluence point via Esmeralda, following in direction of Fazenda Estrela. In retrospect, the way from Muitos Capões, directly located at the BR-285 between Vacaria and Lagoa Vermelha would have been better. Anyway, all roads are unpaved and the maps of the location usually give a false impression that there are few or no roads in the vicinity of the confluence, but actually the area is simple to reach by car, even with sufficient signs of all the interesting locations, and, since it has lots of timber industry, is full of small transportation paths. Following in direction of Capela Nossa Senhora de Fátima (see picture 5), we approached the confluence from south, and managed to reach it by car within 500m with our Renault Clio; and 4x4 vehicle could get even closer.

From there it was a 20 min walk on good paths until reaching the edge where the terrain starts to decline, and after that a 10min descent from about 840 m to 730 m on a horse trail until getting to our closest point in the vicinity of the confluence (28°0.037'S, 51°0.000'W, about 67m to the south). Pictures 2 and 3 show the look from there in direction of west and east along the trail, respectively, picture 4 shows two of us (Ney and Gunnar) at this point. The panorama of picture 1 is a few meters to the west reaching open sight. Actually, finally reaching the confluence from our closest point is not obvious, since there seems to be no trail going down to the river valley, which lies still about 20m lower, and the confluence itself is on the opposing side of the river. To get even closer, approaching the confluence using one of the transportation roads from the north seems more promising.