The old mining town of Ouro Preto lies near Belo Horizonte, Minais Gerais. There are many old monuments and churches in this town -- witnesses of the wealth the gold rush in the 17th and 18th centuries brought to this region. Today the baroque city center of Ouro Preto is UNESCO World Heritage. Not alone the city, but also the sorrounding nature offers fantastic sights. Located at a hight of ca. 1000 Meter, the mountains are covered by the mata atlantica, --- the atlantic rainforest. The top of the mountains range up to 1800 Meter and are covered by lower, dark green vegetation. The nature reserves around Ouro Preto are a haven for many rare species, such as colibris, large butterflies, and the velvet worm peripatus acacacioi, the oldest among the still existing species on earth.