Serra Geral facts for kids
The Serra Geral (which means "General Mountains") is a mountain range in southern Brazil. It's like the southern part of a bigger mountain system called the Serra do Mar, which runs along Brazil's southeastern coast. The Serra Geral mountains run next to the Atlantic Ocean in the states of Santa Catarina and northern Rio Grande do Sul. They create a natural border, separating a narrow flat area near the coast (called a coastal plain) from a higher, flat area further inland (called a plateau).
The coastal plain has many short rivers, lagoons (shallow bodies of water separated from the ocean), and bays (parts of the ocean that go into the land). This area is part of a humid tropical forest region known as the Serra do Mar coastal forests.
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The Plateau and Its Rivers
West of the Serra Geral mountains is a large, flat area called a plateau. This plateau has many rivers that flow into the Uruguay River. Some of these rivers include the Pelotas and the Canoas. Other rivers, like the Jacuí River, flow south from the plateau into a large lake in Rio Grande do Sul called Lagoa dos Patos.
Amazing Canyons and Cold Weather
The Serra Geral is famous for its huge canyons, which are deep, narrow valleys with steep sides. You can find these amazing natural wonders in two special protected areas:
- Aparados da Serra National Park
- Serra Geral National Park
The plateau area is actually the coldest part of Brazil! It often has frosts, and it even gets snow every year. This cold climate makes it home to unique mountain forests called Araucaria moist forests. These forests are named after the tall, distinctive Araucaria trees that grow there.
Some of Brazil's coldest towns are located in the Santa Catarina part of the Serra Geral. These towns include Urubici, Urupema, São Joaquim, and Bom Jardim da Serra.
How the Mountains Formed
The mountains and the plateau of Serra Geral are mostly made of a type of rock called basalt. This rock formed a very long time ago, during the early Cretaceous period. It was created when a huge amount of molten rock (magma) erupted from deep within the Earth. This event was part of a massive volcanic area known as the Paraná and Etendeka traps. Interestingly, parts of this same ancient volcanic area can also be found across the Atlantic Ocean in Angola and Namibia in Africa, showing how the continents were once connected.
See also
In Spanish: Sierra Geral para niños
