Imaging Brazil 117: Loneliness of Lençóis Maranhenses, MA (2007)

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

117. Loneliness of van Lençóis Maranhenses

JULY 2007: Loneliness of Lençóis Maranhenses

The immense dune landscape of Lençóis Maranhenses is located at about 250 km east of São Luís, capital of the state of Maranhão. We stayed in the small city of Barreirinhas – located at the Preguiças River -, which is considered as the gateway to Lençóis. Early in the morning, we were picked up by a 4×4 vehicle, which had seats for six people. Firstly, the slow Preguiças River had to be crossed by a ferry. Then a secondary rood, with loose sand and with water puddles, was followed, until the meeting point. From there, we were free to walk around, until sunset. We all went to the nearest lake and settled us down near the lake, which contained clear blue water. The contrast with the white sand was amazing. Soon, I started to walk around and climbed some sand dunes. I didn`t have to go too far to feel literally alone, surrounded by a vast landscape of white sand dunes, with some green bushes and several crystal blue and emerald green freshwater lakes, with the cloudless blue sky above me. There was no sign of life around me: no men, no animals, and no birds in the sky. Just me, in the middle of the white dune desert. Later that day, one of the friends joined me during another walk in the dunes. She was walking ahead of me, and was having the same experience of loneliness in Lençóis…..

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 2007, 2015