Itatiaia National Park
Encyclopedia
Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia), established in 1937, is the oldest national park in Brazil
. It is located on the border between Rio de Janeiro
and Minas Gerais
states, between 22º16’ - 22º28’ S and 44º34’ - 44º42’ W.
The park is part of the Mantiqueira mountain range, and home to Brazil's third highest mountain, Pico das Agulhas Negras
, which stands at 2,878 meters. This peak is visible to the northwest of Resende
when driving between São Paulo
and Rio de Janeiro
on the Via Dutra highway, which is the easiest route to get there.
The park attracts bird watchers from all over the world with its 250 species of birds. Other attractions include hiking and rock climbing.
The park is surrounded by the Mantiqueira Mountain Environmental Protection Area which provides an ecological buffer zone for the park.
The park is divided in two areas: high and low. The high area is accessible through an entrance about 35 km from the main entrance and gives access to the Pico das Agulhas Negras
and Prateleiras complex.
The low area of the park is much closer to the city of Itatiaia
and has many waterfalls, such as Véu da Noiva with 45 meters. The low area has also a Natural History museum.
Itatiaia means "many-pointed rock" in the Tupi
language.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. It is located on the border between Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro (state)
Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...
and Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
states, between 22º16’ - 22º28’ S and 44º34’ - 44º42’ W.
The park is part of the Mantiqueira mountain range, and home to Brazil's third highest mountain, Pico das Agulhas Negras
Pico das Agulhas Negras
Pico das Agulhas Negras is the fifth highest mountain in Brazil, standing at above sea level, making it one of the highest in the Brazilian Highlands...
, which stands at 2,878 meters. This peak is visible to the northwest of Resende
Resende, Rio de Janeiro
Resende is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 119,801 and its area is 1,144 km².Resendense refers to people or things from Resende, RJ. Its territory boundaries to the state of São Paulo and Minas Gerais...
when driving between São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
and Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
on the Via Dutra highway, which is the easiest route to get there.
The park attracts bird watchers from all over the world with its 250 species of birds. Other attractions include hiking and rock climbing.
The park is surrounded by the Mantiqueira Mountain Environmental Protection Area which provides an ecological buffer zone for the park.
The park is divided in two areas: high and low. The high area is accessible through an entrance about 35 km from the main entrance and gives access to the Pico das Agulhas Negras
Pico das Agulhas Negras
Pico das Agulhas Negras is the fifth highest mountain in Brazil, standing at above sea level, making it one of the highest in the Brazilian Highlands...
and Prateleiras complex.
The low area of the park is much closer to the city of Itatiaia
Itatiaia
Itatiaia is a Brazilian municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro. It is located at an altitude of 390 meters. Its population was 30,168 and its area is 224.96 km²....
and has many waterfalls, such as Véu da Noiva with 45 meters. The low area has also a Natural History museum.
Itatiaia means "many-pointed rock" in the Tupi
Tupian languages
The Tupi or Tupian language family comprises some 70 languages spoken in South America, of which the best known are Tupi proper and Guarani.-History, members and classification:...
language.
Further reading
- Jorge Pádua, Maria Tereza e Coimbra Filho, Adelmar F. Os Parques Nacionais do Brasil. Instituto de Cooperação Iberoamericana. Madrid. José Olympio Editora, 1989. ISBN 84-85389-19-0, pág. 122 a 129
- Corrêa, Marcos Sá "Itatiaia - O Caminho das Pedras" São Paulo. Metalivros, 2003. ISBN 85-85371-50-1, 240 pág.
- Leite, Helton Perillo Ferreira - "Planalto do Itatiaia - Região das Agulhas Negras", Rio de Janeiro. Montanhar / Publit, 2007. Edição parcialmente trilíngue. ISBN 978-85-7773-076-6, 232 páginas.