lso known as poços de desabamento (slide shafts), sinkholes are large cylindrical depressions formed by collapsing ceilings of underground cavities. Popularly, they are known as “caldeirões do inferno” (Hell’s cauldrons). The Lagoa Dourada (Golden Pond), in the area around Vila Velha, is part of a group of sinkholes in Campos Gerais. Because it is nearly filled with sediment, it is considered a sinkhole in its terminal stage, and was named for the sun’s reflection on its waters. In contrast, the Buraco do Padre (Priest’s Hole) sinkhole is clear to its full depth of about 40 meters. It receives the waters of Quebra-Perna(Leg-Breaker) River in a waterfall about 25 meters above a shallow pond with a sandy shore.The water from the Quebra-Perna enters a 40-meter long, 8-meter tall tunnel, and exits through another tunnel 30 meters long and as much as 25 meters tall. It is possible to walk along this underground river, to observe the sandstone stratifications in its rocky walls, the rupestrian vegetation and the swifts who nest there. The name Buraco do Padre has an uncertain origin, but it is believed that a Jesuit who lived nearby may have used the location for periods of spiritual retreat. The Lagoa Dourada and Buraco do Padre sinkholes are in the Ponta Grossa municipality. The Furnas Gêmeas (Twin Sinkholes) are to be found nearby, in the area around Passo do Pupo.

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