Meteorite, energy and a giant crater: understand how Serra da Cangalha came to be in TO Around 300 million years ago, a meteorite weighing approximately 20 thousand tons exploded before hitting the ground in the current municipality of Campos Lindos, in the north of Tocantins. Even without touching the surface, the enormous energy released by the explosion deformed the rocks of the Parnaíba Sedimentary Basin and created Serra da Cangalha, one of the largest impact craters in Brazil. The structure measuring 13.7 kilometers in diameter and more than 400 meters high was shaped by the release of energy generated during the explosion, according to geologists. The force was so intense that it created concentric rings in the relief, visible to this day in satellite images, like the waves formed when a stone is thrown into a river. "It fell apart before it even touched the ground, but it released an enormous amount of energy that deformed the rocks that make up the Parnaíba Sedimentary Basin," geologist and professor at the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), Fernando de Morais, recently explained to g1. ? Click here to follow the g1 TO channel on WhatsApp READ MORE Meteorite, energy and a giant crater: understand how Serra da Cangalha came to be in TO Meteorite fall 300 million years ago formed one of the largest craters in the country: discover Serra da Cangalha Serra da Cangalha has one of the largest craters in Brazil Reproduction/Campos Lindos City Hall Geological monument The structure was identified in the 1970s by the Radam Brasil Project, but, initially, it was classified only as a dome. Only after analyzing deformed rocks did researchers confirm that it was an impact crater. Today, Serra da Cangalha is considered a geological monument with great potential for geotourism. In 2012, the National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) studied the transformation of the area into a national heritage site or cultural landscape, but the process did not progress. There, visitors follow trails and get to know up close the phenomenon that shaped the landscape millions of years ago. The attraction offers unique experiences, such as: Trails in the rings: 3 km walks that take tourists from the second ring to the center of the impact. Waterfalls and Caves: Waterfalls inside the crater and the recently discovered "Meteor Cave". Paramotor Flight: Overflights that guarantee a privileged view of the size of the "hole" left by the car's energy. According to Mayor Romeu Kalugin (Republicans), the site is one of the few impact craters of this size on the planet that remain 100% preserved by nature. "The only one completely preserved by nature is ours. It maintains the exact location of the meteorite's impact, something that arouses curiosity as to where it is presented," he said. He stated that municipal management works in partnership with area owners to facilitate access to the site and encourage projects that attract tourists to the interior of the crater. "The goal is to place Campos Lindos on the definitive route for those who visit Tocantins in search of mystery, science and landscapes that do not exist anywhere else in the country", he highlighted. Rings and 'cangalha' Serra da Cangalha Reproduction/ Google Maps The fall of the meteorite caused types of 'waves' in the area. These elevations are rings formed by the energy dissipated after the impact of the bolide. In satellite images (see photo above) it is possible to see the formation of the first ring (yellow circle) and second ring (red circle). "For example, when you throw a stone into a river, you will see that wherever the stone falls, the waves formed by that stone will open. It will open in the form of concentric rings. You can do this experiment in a glass of water. Let a drop drip into the water and you will see that these rings will open. The same is true with the impact of the meteorite", explained the professor. The popular name "cangalha" arose from the observation of residents of the region. Seen from the side, the formation of the mountain resembles a horse's saddle, also known as a saddle. Although the name is not an official scientific name, it was consolidated due to local tradition and culture. Shaped like a cangalha (saddle used on horses), which gives its name to the mountain where the Iphan crater is located/Disclosure See more news from the region on g1 Tocantins.