Sites near Brasília: Valley of the Moon

The Vale da Lua  (Valley of the Moon) is an ancient plateau that is home to some of the oldest rock formations on Earth - an estimated age of 1.8 billion years old.

Because of its rocks that have been washed out by the crystal clear waters of the São Miguel River over the ages, leaving them smooth, and in shades of gray, ultimately giving the place an out-of-this-world feeling, it was named after its resemblance to lunar craters.

Not least, according to NASA, seen from the outer space, the Vale da Lua is the most luminous area visible on Earth. The bright glowing is a result of the reflection between the sun and the quartz crystal in the region.

One of the most visited sites in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, precisely in the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, the moon-like valley is now for sale.

As the water continues to dig craters into the rocks by eroding and changing the landscape, the Vale da Lua is a work in progress - but its value not. The delicate, fascinating and meticulous work carried out by nature over almost 2 billion years can be sold out for as little as 5 million Brazilian reals (aprox. USD 2.5 mi). 

I know that the ownership of the land has been passed from one generation to another and the owners are obviously entirely in their rights to sell it for as much as they deem it valuable, but I cannot help being sad that we are monetizing every single natural place on Earth.

Today a small amount of R$ 10 is required to get access to the area of the Vale da Lua. However, those who already expressed interest in purchasing it are thinking about turning the place into a resort or alike. A real rich. This means that in the future many will be deprived from the right to visit it because of higher prices.

You know what? All this breaks my heart. So much! Actually, it makes me sick. 

I have missed two opportunities to visit the Vale da Lua, and now it looks like that if I do not get to visit it as soon as possible, I will never be able to ever see and experience the warm pools amongst the rocks with my own eyes and skin.

Sometimes I ask myself how much longer will it take before the society as a whole realizes that the nature does not make any charge for the “services” it provides. It is a proof that nature’s generosity is extraordinary - but no more than human beings’ selfishness.

And I see two problems here: first is that we take advantage of its generosity, overusing its resources - carelessly. Second is that the nature can take it all back, at its convenience, and in the most expensive and brutal ways - as seen in recent tsunamis, typhons… you name it - at high rates if we do not care for it. 

A friend hit the nail on the head by borrowing the words of Oscar Wilde: 

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

Only hope we wake up in time! Stop monetizing the whole fucking world!