Notes on an exploratory expedition to the headwaters of the Mau (Ireng) river, Northern Brazilian Amazon

Ari Weiduschat,Sebastião Nascimento,Fabio Bonatto,Reinaldo Imbrozio

doi:10.24979/bolmirr.v7i02.758

Abstract

   Notas sobre uma expedição exploratória às nascentes do rio Mau (Ireng), norte da Amazônia Brasileira. Este trabalho resume os resultados de uma expedição exploratória realizada às nascentes do rio Mau (Ireng) entre 21 e 28 de janeiro de 1996. Esta região marca a fronteira entre Brasil e Guiana situada no extremo norte da Amazônia brasileira. Nosso objetivo foi observar o ambiente, populações humanas, fauna e flora, verificando informações históricas e coletando material biológico desta região fronteiriça da Amazônia que abrange parte do Parque Nacional do Monte Roraima e da Terra Indígena Raposa – Serra do Sol, Roraima, Brasil. A acumulação de informação sobre esta região da Amazônia providencia melhor base de conhecimento que pode ser aplicado em atividades de conservação e uso sustentado dos recursos naturais  

Highlights

The purpose of this document is to present some observations and considerations of an exploratory expedition to the headwaters of the Mau River, northern Brazilian Amazon, made between the 21st and 28th of January 1996
Geographical description and surveys of the landscape potentialities should provide better local knowledge that can be applied in conservation activities and sustainable use of natural resources
The two names given to the same river are derived from local indigenous languages: Ireng being adopted by the Guyanese side while Mau (Maú, Mahú, Máho) by Brazilian side of the region

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this document is to present some observations and considerations of an exploratory expedition to the headwaters of the Mau (or Ireng) River, northern Brazilian Amazon, made between the 21st and 28th of January 1996. The B-5 landmark is near the Cachoeira do Grande Caracol or Great Snail Falls (Kurutuwu Mehru or Kurutuik Falls), a waterfall in two stages with a total drop of about 100 m From here on it was two days walking through dense mountain forest to the Brazil-British Guiana frontier landmark 13 (B/BG-13: 05o 14’ 30" N, 60o 07’ 31" W) in the Pacaraima Range near the northernmost point of the Uialan Mountain, at an altitude of 1,120 m. This landmark is the third most northerly geographical mark in Brazil and identifies the headwaters of the Mau (Ireng) river within the Monte Roraima National Park (Figure 3). It is about 10 km from Mount Caburaí, Brazil's northernmost point (B/BG-11A); 05o 17’ 19,77" N, 60o 11’ 54,51" W (Reis 2009)

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

ENVIRONMENT AND FLORA

FINAL CONSIDERATION