Curiosities

OLD ROCKS 

The rocks of the quarry of the Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente (Unilivre) are the oldest of the region. They were exploited and cut into small stones and belong to an old group of rocks that geologists claim to be part of a crystal basement, the oldest geological unit that was the infra-structure for the evolution of younger terrains.

Geo-chronological dates indicate that they were formed over two billion years ago. In the geological literature they are known as belonging to a group of rocks called grits.

Grits are rocks made of minerals formed and crystallized in conditions of high temperature, high pressure and lack of water. Thus, it is concluded that they were formed in a geological environment totally different than the present one. That is, it is believed that grit rocks are formed in environments that are located between 15 and 20 km under the earth, where there are high pressures and the temperature is higher than 700 centigrade degrees, that is, temperature at which rocks are near their fusion state. (Source: CPRM – Brazilian Geological Service)

ZANINELLI WOODS

Flora: 
In the same way as the majority of the remaining greenery formations located in the urban area of Curitiba, Zaninelli Woods present a great part of its area characterized as a secondary forest surrounded by brushwood, both small and big ones.

Brushwood is represented by low and thick bushes, at the sides of the paths, formed by jaborandis, vassouras, and carquejas. These bushes are in many places covered by woody lianas with clear and good smelling inflorescence that attract bees and other insects.

Deep inside the woods there are hencoops, formed basically by wild-tobacco, pororocas, pepper trees, snow bells and pixiricas.

The most developed stage of the greenery, already a secondary forest, has many species originated from the original forest. It is worth mentioning the Paraná Pine, by its size and by what it represents as a symbol, and other trees, such as açoita-cavalo, quaçulangas, cafezeiro do mato, cinnamon, guaiçá, carne-de-vaca, pitangueira and caxingá, all of them Brazilian typical plants.

The forest has also many species of bromeliads, ferns, orchids, golden rain, lichens, mosses, fungus, passion flowers, and saint-john-vines.

It can be seen also a few kinds of exotic species, such as cedar tree, Japan grapes, loquat or yellow plum, little kiss or shameless-maria, and cup of milk. 


Fauna: 
There are at least thirty different species of birds at Zaninelli Woods that are common in similar areas all over the city, notably the white chest hummingbird, the red beak little bug, and the white belly hummingbird. There are there are also many other birds living in swamps surrounding the lake.

Mammals:
 As it is normal for residual green areas in urban environment, it is quite low the diversity of mammals at the woods. We have there the white-ear-possum; the cavy; the big rat of the swamps; some small rodents, and bats characteristics of urban environment.

Reptiles:
Among the most important ones we have the smooth-snake, green-snake, brick-color-snake, and among lizards, the great leia, and the miniscule wood-lizard. 

LAKE DEPTH 

The lake at the Universidade Livre do Meio Ambiente was created because of the ore exploitation. Due to the excavations at the site when the area was used for such activity, a water berth was hit, making it impossible for the continuation of the ore exploitation. The result was a lake that has a depth of eight meters with different types of fishes, swans, ducks, geese, and turtles. 

CONSTRUCTION 

Emadel-Estruturas em Madeira, from Araucária, Paraná was the builder of Unilivre. The wood used came from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, and was treated in autoclave, thus making it water proof, warranting 30 years of useful life, or 50 years, if well maintained. The metal used in the construction was also properly cared for, and the whole set of services complied with ABNT regulations.

ARCHITECT COMMENTS 

Domingos Bongestabs, the architect responsible for Unilivre project, says that the Zaninelli Woods was discovered by another architect, Roberto Gandolfo. When buying a piece of land to build his house at the slope of the quarry, he found this lost and abandoned paradise. He then informed Mr. Jaime Lerner, then city mayor, about its existence.

A place with a difficult access, the wood was also a hiding place for criminals and garbage deposit. When the garbage was removed they found a big stone there. And today this stone is part of the landscape project of the University.