The Skies of Quixadá
The account
Among the great monoliths of the backlands, residents say they often see lights and craft, and some claim to have been taken by them.
What investigators found
There is no scientific record of these phenomena. Clear skies, little light pollution and mystical tourism help explain the volume of reports.
The story
Quixadá, in the Sertão Central region of Ceará, is known for the granite monoliths that rise from the landscape, such as the Pedra da Galinha Choca. Over the years, ufologists came to single out the town as one of the places with the most UFO reports in Brazil. Residents talk about lights that appear behind the hills, objects hovering in the sky and, in some cases, encounters and abductions.
Its reputation draws researchers, television crews and visitors. None of these reports, however, has been confirmed by measurement or official record. Experts point out that the backland sky is very dark and clear, which makes satellites, airplanes, planets and meteors easy to see. The combination of a striking landscape and oral tradition makes Quixadá one of the hubs of UFO tourism in Brazil's Northeast.