About 174 km From the Capital Goiânia and 300 Meters High: The Serra de Caldas Novas Impresses Even NASA

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 23/06/2025 at 18:19

Updated on 23/06/2025 at 18:22

Foto: Reprodução

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At 300 Meters Tall and Located 174 Km from Goiânia, Serra de Caldas Novas Stands Out for Its Unique Formation and Even Catches NASA’s Attention.

An image taken by NASA’s satellite has become a source of pride for Goiás. The photo, published this week by the space agency of the United States, shows the Serra de Caldas Novas and brought a curious caption: “What’s that?” — in Portuguese, “What is that?”. The international highlight surprised Brazilians and quickly went viral on social media.

Landscape Description

In the caption of the publication, NASA detailed that the formation seen is the Serra de Caldas, a plateau that rises about 300 meters above the local landscape. The agency explained that the area is entirely covered by Cerrado, a Brazilian ecosystem that houses species such as the red-legged seriema and the pequizeiro.

NASA also informed that the area is part of a state park established in 1970. The image was captured by the Landsat 9 satellite on May 19, 2025. On social media, Brazilians reacted with enthusiasm and much humor.

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Repercussion on the Internet

The post garnered over 2,500 comments, a number higher than the agency’s average posts. Among the reactions were jokes such as: “They say so much that NASA had to study Brazilians; now they have started” and “The pequis from Goiás are in NASA”. Other internet users praised the state: “My country Goiás!” and “Brazil is not just Rio de Janeiro and the Amazon”.

The publication sparked a movement to value the region and piqued the interest of many who were not yet familiar with Serra de Caldas Novas.

State Park of Serra de Caldas Novas

The area mentioned by NASA belongs to the State Park of Serra de Caldas Novas, known as PESCaN. The park was created in 1970 and occupies about 12,300 hectares.

Its main objective is to protect the springs that feed the hydrothermal aquifers of Caldas Novas and Rio Quente.

The mountain is located just 5 km from the urban center of Caldas Novas and about 174 km from the capital, Goiânia. The park also encompasses slopes, hill bases, and spring zones, all essential for the environmental balance of the region.

Trails and Waterfalls

PESCaN is open to visitors and attracts tourists interested in trails, waterfalls, ecotourism, and environmental education. The main options include the Cascatinha Trail, which has a light path, and the Paredão Trail, which is longer and includes viewpoints.

The Cascatinha Trail is ideal for families and leads to a small waterfall with a swimming hole. The Paredão Trail requires more physical effort but rewards with wide views and a beautiful waterfall at the end.

Visiting hours are from 6 AM to 4 PM. The site does not have a snack bar, so it is recommended that visitors bring snacks, water, and trash bags.

Environmental and Tourist Value

The importance of Serra de Caldas Novas goes beyond natural beauty. It is essential for the conservation of the Cerrado and for maintaining the hot waters that make the region one of Brazil’s main tourist destinations. The park is managed by the Goiás State Department of Environment and Sustainable Development (Semad).

With the image published by NASA, Serra de Caldas Novas now has even more visibility and recognition. The international repercussion reinforces its role as a natural heritage of ecological and cultural relevance.

Technical Clarification

In light of the curiosity sparked by the image, questions also arose about the geological formation of the region. To the newspaper Metrópoles, geologist Valdir Silveira, director of Geology and Mineral Resources of the Geological Service of Brazil (SGB), clarified that there is no presence of uranium in the area.

“The feature is located in Caldas Novas, Goiás. The hot springs surround the geological elevation. There are only hot waters, there is no uranium,” the specialist stated.

About 174 km From the Capital Goiânia and 300 Meters High: The Serra de Caldas Novas Impresses Even NASA

At 300 Meters Tall and Located 174 Km from Goiânia, Serra de Caldas Novas Stands Out for Its Unique Formation and Even Catches NASA’s Attention.

Landscape Description

Repercussion on the Internet

State Park of Serra de Caldas Novas

Trails and Waterfalls

Environmental and Tourist Value

Technical Clarification

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About 174 km From the Capital Goiânia and 300 Meters High: The Serra de Caldas Novas Impresses Even NASA

At 300 Meters Tall and Located 174 Km from Goiânia, Serra de Caldas Novas Stands Out for Its Unique Formation and Even Catches NASA’s Attention.

Landscape Description

Repercussion on the Internet

State Park of Serra de Caldas Novas

Trails and Waterfalls

Environmental and Tourist Value

Technical Clarification

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

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While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

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