Pico 31 de Março facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pico 31 de Março |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,974.18 m (9,757.8 ft) |
| Parent peak | Pico da Neblina |
| Geography | |
 Pico 31 de Março
Location in Brazil
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| Location |  Brazil /  Venezuela |
| Parent range | Cerro de la Neblina (Portuguese: Serra da Neblina), a section of Serra do Imeri in the Guiana Highlands |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1965 |
| Easiest route | From the Brazilian town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira to Iazinho river by truck, then by boat on Iazinho river, Ia river, Caburaí river and Tucano river, then on a jungle trail with three camps (Tucano, Bebedouro Novo, Garimpo do Tucano) before the final ascent. This is the same route used for neighbouring Pico da Neblina. |
Pico 31 de Março, also called Pico Trinta e Um de Março or Pico Phelps, is a tall mountain located right on the border between Brazil and Venezuela. It stands at about 2,974 meters (9,758 feet) above sea level. This makes it Brazil's second highest mountain.
Pico 31 de Março is part of the Neblina mountain group. The highest peak in this group, Pico da Neblina, is Brazil's tallest mountain. Pico 31 de Março is very close to Pico da Neblina, only about 687 meters (2,254 feet) away. Because they are so close, Pico 31 de Março is often seen as a smaller peak of Pico da Neblina. People usually climb Pico 31 de Março when they are already planning to reach Pico da Neblina. A short, easy walk of about an hour connects the two peaks.
Contents
Discovering and Naming the Peak
The Neblina mountain group was first explored in 1954 by the Basset Maguire expedition. Pico 31 de Março was first climbed in 1965 by a Brazilian army team. This team was trying to reach Pico da Neblina for the first time.
The mountain got its name, which means "March 31 Peak" in Portuguese, from a special event in Brazil. A few months before the climb, on March 31, 1964, a new military government took power in Brazil. They called this event the "March 31 Revolution." The name of the peak was a way for the new government to honor itself. Even after Brazil became a democracy again in 1985, the name of the peak was not changed. In Venezuela, the mountain is known as Pico Phelps. It is the highest point in Venezuela outside of the Andes mountains.
Where is Pico 31 de Março Located?
Pico 31 de Março is part of the Neblina mountain group. This group is the highest point on the Guiana Shield, a very old land area in South America. The word Neblina means "fog" in both Portuguese and Spanish. This name fits well because the mountains are often covered in fog.
The mountains are protected inside two large national parks. On the Brazilian side, there is the Pico da Neblina National Park. On the Venezuelan side, there is the Serranía de la Neblina National Park. These two parks, along with another park in Venezuela called Parima Tapirapecó National Park, form a huge protected area. This area is about 80,000 square kilometers (30,888 square miles). It might be the largest national park system in the world that protects tropical rainforests.
How We Measure Mountain Heights
For many years, people thought Pico 31 de Março was 2,992 meters (9,816 feet) tall. This measurement was made in 1965 by a surveyor named José Ambrósio de Miranda Pombo. He used a tool called a theodolite.
However, in 2004, a new and more accurate measurement was taken. A cartographer named Marco Aurélio de Almeida Lima used modern GPS equipment. He was part of a Brazilian army trip. His measurement showed the peak was 2,972.66 meters (9,753 feet) tall. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), which is Brazil's official map-making and census agency, accepted this new height.
In 2016, the IBGE slightly changed the official height again to 2,974.18 meters (9,758 feet). This was a small change of about 1.52 meters (5 feet). No new trip was made to the mountain for this change. Instead, scientists used the old GPS data and a new, more exact map of Brazil's geoid. The geoid is like an imaginary surface that helps measure altitudes based on Earth's gravitational field. This is why both Pico da Neblina and Pico 31 de Março, which are next to each other, had their heights corrected by the exact same amount.
Mountain Shape and Weather
The Neblina mountain group is made of a type of rock called sandstone. This sandstone sits on top of older Precambrian metamorphic rocks. Unlike its taller neighbor, Pico da Neblina, which has a sharp, pointed shape, Pico 31 de Março has a smoother top. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell Pico 31 de Março apart from Pico da Neblina in photos. This depends on where the picture was taken.
Even though it's high up, Pico 31 de Março is close to the equator. This means it can be cold at the top, but it rarely freezes. Snow is not usually seen there. One source suggests that the average temperature for nearby Pico da Neblina is about 20°C (68°F) during the day and 6°C (43°F) at night.
Visiting the Mountain
Pico 31 de Março is in a national park and a border area. It is also part of the land of the Yanomami people. Because of this, you need a special permit to visit the area. You can get this permit from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) office in São Gabriel da Cachoeira. All climbers must also go with a local guide who is approved.
The trip usually takes about four days to get there and four days to come back. Three of those days are spent trekking through the dense rainforest. This jungle trek can be just as hard as climbing the mountain itself. It is also very difficult to get help if someone needs rescuing in this area.
Some health concerns exist in the region. A disease called Onchocerciasis, or "river blindness," is present. It is caused by a tiny worm spread by a type of black fly. This disease can cause permanent blindness. While not very common, it is important to be aware. Malaria and yellow fever can also be spread by insects in the area. It is very important for climbers to take steps to avoid insect bites. You should also talk to your doctor about ways to prevent these illnesses before your trip.
See also
In Spanish: Pico Phelps para niños
- Pico da Neblina National Park
- Guiana Shield
