The biggest waterfall in Mato Grosso do Sul, called Boca da Onça, dried up a month ago. The water flow is zero and is linked to the lack of rain in the region of Bonito (MS).
Boca da Onça is 156 meters high and is 56 kilometers from Bonito. It is the main waterfall among others whose access occurs through trails in the city of Bodoquena.
The paradisiacal scenery and attractions in nature attract about 200 visitors a day and 40 thousand a year. Who counts is the tourism manager Cristiano Godinho, from Boca da Onça Ecotur.
He recalls that in the surroundings there are several trails, canyons, lakes and many waterfalls, with unique formations, in addition to activities and extreme sports, such as the largest platform abseiling in Brazil, he says, at 90 meters high.
Despite the drought, Godinho says that tourism is still on the rise, as the only waterfall to dry up, so far, was Boca da Onça. “The whole region is like this, without water. Boca da Onça started to dry up on July 28th.”
According to him, the current rainfall measurement is the lowest in four years. “We have a delay of rain this year, a problem in the whole region”, he points out.
The drought is confirmed by meteorologist Vinicius Sperling, from the Weather and Climate Monitoring Center of Mato Grosso do Sul.
He points out that the region has had below-average rainfall for a long time. “The data show that we have been below the climatological average since 2019, that is, at the lowest historical average of rainfall since then.”
The meteorologist points out that, even with the heavy rains in August, the rivers did not fill enough to raise the reservoirs and flow into the waterfalls. That’s because May, June and July had a drought situation, according to the National Water Agency.
“Excessive August rains do not change the long-term scenario, which influenced the waterfall,” says Sperling.
The drought has to do with the La Niña phenomenon. “Changes in the ocean, the circulation of winds, the redistribution of energy, everything influences the rains”, says the meteorologist.
The expectation is that October will increase the rains again and that the Boca da Onça will resume its flow. Meanwhile, tourism finds alternatives. “We have several trails that lead to other bathing and visitation points”, reinforces the Tourism manager.
