Toca da Boa Vista

Useful Information

Location:	Campo Formoso.
Open:	closed. [2022]
Fee:	closed. [2022]
Classification:	Karst Cave Hypogene Caves
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=114.000 m, VR=50 m, T=27-29 °C, H=0%.
Guided tours:	closed. [2022]
Photography:
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Augusto S. Auler, Peter L. Smart (1999): Toca da Boa Vista, Bahia state – the longest known cave in the Southern Hemisphere In: C. Schobbenhaus,D.A. Campos, E.T. Queiroz, M. Winge, M. Berbert-Born, (Edit.) Sítios Geológicos e Paleontológicos do Brasil. archive Ronaldo Araujo Leoni, Laís Alves-Silva, João Paulo da Costa, André Vieira de Araújo, Hermínio Ismael de Araújo-Júnior, Mário André Trindade Dantas (2024): First fossil record of a Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) in northeast of Brazil: Taxonomy, ichnology, and taphonomic history, Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Volume 136, April 2024, 104831. online DOI pdf Alexander Klimchouk, Augusto Auler, Francisco Bezerra, Caroline Cazarin, F. Balsamo, Yuri Dublyansky (2016): Hypogenic origin, geologic controls and functional organization of a giant cave system in Precambrian carbonates, Brazil Geomorphology. 253. 385-405. researchgate DOI Aroldo Misi (1998): Neoproterozoic carbonate sequences of the Una Group, Irecê Basin, Brazil: Chemostratigraphy, age and correlations, Precambrian Research 89(1):87-100. researchgate DOI Augusto Auler, Alexander Klimchouk, Francisco Bezerra, Caroline Cazarin, Renata Ennes-Silva, F. Balsamo (2017): Origin and Evolution of Toca da Boa Vista and Toca da Barriguda Cave System in North-eastern Brazil In: Alexander Klimchouk, Arthur N. Palmer, Jo De Waele, Augusto S. Auler, Philippe Audra Hypogene Karst Regions and Caves of the World, Springer, August 2017, pp. 827-840. researchgate DOI
Address:	Grupo Bambuí, Av. Nossa Senhora do Carmo, 221 – s. 307-308 – Belo Horizonte
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1986	discovered and first exploration by cavers from Sociedade Excursionista e Espeleológica (SEE).
1987	cavers from Grupo Bambuí de Pesquisas Espeleológicas (GBPE), surveyed 2.8 km on first expedition.
1999	article about the "longest known cave in the Southern Hemisphere" published, length at that time 84 km.

Description

Toca da Boa Vista is quite famous for its size, which is the result of its special geology. It is said to be the longest cave of the Southern Hemisphere, and the longest cave of Brazil. The longest cave of Brazil is still true [2024], but the longest cave of the Southern Hemisphere is the Bullita Cave System (Burke's Back Yard) in Australia with 129 km length [2024]. The list of the longest caves changes frequently as new passages are explored and surveyed, and most of these superlatives are only valid for a short time. The statement is based on an article by Augusto S. Auler from 1999 (see literature above), and at that time it was correct, although only 84 km were surveyed. The basic aspect of this is actually something completely different: this karst area has numerous caves, and all of them are quite long. Several caves in this area are probably connected to each other, but the connection has not yet been found. So this is definitely the most important karst area in Brazil.

However, most famous is this cave for an enormous number of prehistoric bones, which were found in the cave. 20,000 years ago an enormous river transported dead animals into the cave, which formed massive deposits of bones. More than 50,000 bones have been excavated until now, among them the bones of huge mammals which are now extinct. An example is a 6 m long giant sloth. The newest discovery was a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) in 2024.

Its rural and isolated location has prevented it from becoming a tourist spot, and it remains an important area of immense scientific value. The cave has numerous entrances, currently nine, but all are vertical drops and require climbing gear. This is also a result of the hypogene speleogenesis, which moves upwards and when it reaches the surface creates a daylight shaft entrance. The cave is very dangerous as it is hot and very dry, many cavers have problems taking enough water with them. Don't try to enter it! The coordinates given on Wikipedia, Google Maps, OSM and other websites are all wrong, or at least inaccurate, so you will not be able to find it. We have listed more than 6,000 underground sites, and less than 10 are without location, this is one of them for good reasons. If you feel fit enough and want to visit, please contact the local cavers if you may join a cave tour.