Eighty-seven-year old prospector, Anízio Alves de Macedo, was welcomed by a crowd at the church of Senhor dos Passos. Aside from mining, he works in tourism at the Union Society of Miners of Lençois, where he is honorary president.

Girls from Lençois clearly took time and dedication with their Olympian-inspired costumes to welcome the Olympic torch to their city, which serves as the gateway to the Chapada Diamantina region in Bahia.

Mountain biker Anderson Almeida, 20, was born in Palmares in the Chapada Diamantina region. His dream is to compete in the Olympic Games. "Carrying the Olympic torch is a great honour," he said. "It is a symbol of peace in a place where peace reigns."

Giovana Souza Lima passed the Olympic flame to one of the 15 local guides in front of a famous rock formation known as Lustre. "You know everyone has those 1001 things they want to do in life? One of mine was visiting Chapada Diamantina!" she said.

Young girls welcome the Olympic torch in Lapa Doce, Chapada Diamantina, with the Dance of Ribbons, a folkloric dance found in various regions across the country.

The second stop today was at Lapa Doce, a cave measuring 42 sq. km in size of which 1km is open to tourists. Receiving around 20,000 visitors a year, the cave has a team of 15 guides and 50 researchers: geologists, espleologists and biologists.

After abseiling down to the Pratinha River in Chapada Diamantina, Wendel Pereira waded through the waters with the torch. "It's a honour to represent Bahia and Brasil," said the abseiling instructor.

Monday's leg of the relay started in the Gruta da Pratinha cave with Raimundo Sólon, who passed the flame to his cousin Wendel, who abseiled down to the Pratinha River. The river runs underground for 100km before coming to the surface here.

The Olympic Torch travelled to Lençóis in the Chapada Diamantina by airplane. Lieutenant Soeiro of the Brazilian Air Force made sure he got a selfie with the torch in the cabin during the flight.

The third week of the Rio 2016 Olympic Torch Relay has got off to an adventurous start. On Monday (23 May), the flame will scale, descend and rapel, through natural pools, caves, over mountains and down waterfalls in the Chapada Diamantina.