| Rio de Janeiro - Parks - National Park Tijuca |
The Parque Nacional da Tijuca (Tijuca National Park) is the largest urban forest
in the world. Located 20 km from the downtown of Rio de Janeiro, the park is the place chosen by the "cariocas" (the people of Rio de
Janeiro), to practice sports. There are belvederes that offer a marvellous view of the city and the outskirts.
Some of the principal monuments of Rio de Janeiro are located there. It is the
case of the Corcovado and the Pedra da Gávea. The park also has a visitors center, with and exposition and film room, auditorium, library,
snack bars and restaurants. The best season for strolling along the trails of the park is between June and September, when it is winter and
there is less rain. However, during the summer, the visibility is better.
The most curious thing is that the forest of Tijuca is a result of replanting.
At the end of the 18th century, the forest was devastated and only farms with coffee and sugar cane plantations were left in the place. Due to
this deforesting, Rio de Janeiro began to have problems due to the lack of water because the springs of the rivers were destroyed. Worried
about this, the Emperor Dom Pedro II ordered the replanting of the region in 1881. More than 80 thousand trees were planted which attracted the
natives animals - Monkeys, Sloths, Birds - to the forst.
The cultural and environmental importance of the Parque Nacional da Tijuca is so
great that it was the symbol of the "Rio-92", as the conference of the United Nations on Environment and Development.
Address:
- Estrada do Sumaré
- Rua Almirante Alexandrino
- Estrada Dona Castorina
- Estrada da Vista Chinesa
- Estrada do Redentor
- Estrada do Açude da Solidão
- Estrada das Canoas
- Estrada Grajaú-Jacarepaguá
Open: From 8 am to 6 pm |
Presentation
