Espinhaço Mountains

The Espinhaço Mountains (Portuguese: Serra do Espinhaço) is a mountain range in Brazil. The range runs roughly north and south through the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia, extending for approximately 1000km. It forms the divide between the upper watershed of the São Francisco River and those of the shorter rivers which flow east into the Atlantic, including the Doce, the Jequitinhonha, and the Pardo. Pico do Itambé rises to 2,033 meters. Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais, and the mining town of Diamantina are located in the Espinhaço Mountains. The Espinhaço Mountains were a major via through which Minas Gerais was settled during the Gold Rush of the 18th century.