Crossing the Backlands

remaking Spix and Martius’ journey in 1818

Abstract

Commemorating the bicentenary of the Journey in Brazil (1817-1820) of the German naturalists Spix e Martius, two researchers and two cameramen remade in July 2018 a segment of that  expedition: crossing the backlands of Minas Gerais up to the frontiers with Goiás and Bahia. The main purpose was to study the continuities and the changes which occured during these 200 years. The visited places were: 1) the district of Minas Novas; 2) the backlands, from the river Jequitinhonha through Montes Claros and Brasília de Minas, up to the river São Francisco; 3) the city of Januária and the National Park of the Caverns of Peruaçu; 4) the Serra das Araras and Chapada Gaúcha; 5) the route, through Ribeirão dos Bois, rio Carinhanha and National Park   Grande Sertão Veredas, up to the frontier with Goiás; 6) the return, back to the river São Francisco, at the cities of Carinhanha and Malhada.