the white coloring o the rocks is due to them
being a popular landing
spot for vultures, that excrete there.
interestingly, there is one solid
rock at the peak of the mountain, exactly three meters
tall - precisely the margin by which the pico da
pedra branca is
taller than the second highest peak in the city, the
pico da tijuca. this even led some people to say that it was 'placed their
deliberately'.