After the Fire - Devastation Part 1

Over the three days from August 4 to August 6 I went up on the mountain to see the damage. These photos were taken Aug 4, 2006.

You can see how the mountain side has been cleared of all grasses and bushes.




I went up the Caminho da Fe to assess the damage. Look at this scorched Palm tree to the left of centre. We will see it again, three months later.




Here you can see how the grasses have been burned off and many trees with their dead and burnt leaves still on them.




Some trees were completely burned to the stump whereas others were still intact but burned badly.




It was interesting to see how some trees were spared altogether.




In other areas there was very little spared.




Look at this unusal place. The grass in the middle of the path was not burned at all. The fire jumped the pathway in many places.




This is looking back the way we came. You can see here where the fire jumped the path in several places.




What a contrast between unburned and burnt areas!




Fresh paint! The Camonho da Fe people had already been up here marking the way! See the yellow arrow. To follow the Caminho da Fe you just follow the yellow arrows for 400 kms.




Another view back down towards to houses that were at the edge of the fire.




Now turn around and look up the mountain at total devestation. So sad!




Another view looking up.




This is a view around the other side of the mountain. Look at the cane, completely baked.




I went down the other side to see how far the fire spread there.




Baked Cactus anyone? Remember what this looks like. We will see it again, three months later.




We backtracked a ways to continue up the mountain. Here is where the fires raged the greatest during the first night. It was a spectacular sight and now you can see why. The damage here was total.




Here many trees were burnt completely or roasted. It was just a matter of how fast the fire was travelling.




Now, with no underbrush, you can see the dozens of very large ant hills there are on the mountain. Here is one, it is that red mound amid the burnt trees.




These trees were burned right to the top.




That is the monkey forest in the background. The monkies ran away from the fire to the other side of that mountain, across the highway.




Now we will continue higher. The devastation is worse the higher up we go.




This favourite roosting place for Urubus is burnt badly.




Look closely at this tree. All the leaves are burned off and the tree is blackened to the top. There are two birds on the burnt branches in the top left. We will look at this tree again three months later.




As we continue closer to the crest of the mountain you can see how everything was burned here. Nothing was left untouched.




Look everywhere! Nothing but scorched rocks and trees. No grasses left here.




More scorched earth.




Looking across the valley. A case of far away fields look greener!




But look here. What a surprise!!! New grass growing already, only 2 weeks after the fire. Amazing!!




Amid all the scorched places fresh grass was already starting to regrow.




A Mystery. What is that cistern doing part way up the mountain? I don't know.




We will leave you with this last photo of the scorched mountain. Is it scarred forever?




Photos by Urso Branco