Lençois, lies 250 miles west of Salvador, in the Chapada Diamantina "Diamond Plateau", mountain range running north - south through the state of Bahia. The average altitude is over 3000 feet. Lençois grew up around the huge diamond boom in the region in the mid-1800's. At one stage it had a population of 30,000 but as a result of the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, the town began to go into decline. The town has been designated a National Monument for its important examples of residential architecture from the 19th century.
Lençois, lies 250 miles west of Salvador, in the Chapada Diamantina "Diamond Plateau", mountain range running north - south through the state of Bahia. The average altitude is over 3000 feet. Lençois grew up around the huge diamond boom in the region in the mid-1800's. At one stage it had a population of 30,000 but as a result of the discovery of diamonds in South Africa, the town began to go into decline. The town has been designated a National Monument for its important examples of residential architecture from the 19th century.
