Rio is a beautiful city with many beaches and historical sites, but it also has a big, natural forest called Tijuca. This forest is really special because it’s one of the biggest cities’ forests in the world. We’d like to tell you more about this wonderful place in the middle of the city. There are many different sectors in the forest, and people can enjoy many different recreational and sporting activities there.
RIO DE JANEIRO
Dandara Siqueira
The History of Tijuca National Park
The History of Tijuca National Park The Park’s history began well before its creation in 1961. It was a region that was heavily exploited for timber extraction and also for coffee plantation. Thus, in 1861, Dom Pedro II, then emperor of Brazil, recognized this area as a “Protective Forest”, which promoted the reduction of deforestation there. After the explorers were removed, a reforestation process began, led by Major Manuel Gomes Archer. With this, tens of thousands of trees were planted in a decade, mainly of the Atlantic Forest species. In 1961, this forest was transformed into a National Park and had 33 km². In 1967, its name was changed to Tijuca National Park and its boundaries were expanded to 39.51 km², incorporating places such as Parque Lage and Corcovado, for example.
The flora and fauna of Tijuca National Park
The Tijuca National Park has an expressive biodiversity, with 1619 vegetal species, among them cedar, murici, canelos, palm heart, orchids, etc. However, 433 of these species are threatened with extinction. In all, there are 328 species of animals, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds, such as snakes, lizards, iguanas, hawks, vultures, marmosets, raccoons, capuchins, armadillos, and opossums, among others. Unfortunately, of the species that exist there 16 are threatened with extinction.
The Attractions present in Tijuca National Park
Tijuca National Park is the largest urban forest in the world and is home to many attractions, including the city’s symbol, Corcovado. It is divided into 4 sectors: Tijuca Forest, Carioca Mountain, Pedra Bonita/Pedra da Gávea and Pretos Forros/Covanca. Next, we will talk about each of the attractions:
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer
Morro do Corcovado is a 710 meter high mountain that, at its summit, displays the statue of Christ the Redeemer – this monument was even elected in 2007, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World. Title aside, the beauty of the Christ the Redeemer statue enchants everyone, an icon of Rio de Janeiro that must be visited when arriving in the city.So that’s it. We hope you enjoyed our tips. If you have any questions, please leave us a comment, we’d love to help you. If you think this post might help a friend or acquaintance of yours, pleaseshare it. For all of Janeiro Tour & Travel’s news and more travel tips, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Book Your Flight:
Find cheap flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to find deals on airlines. Also make sure to read how I find the cheapest flights.
Rent A Car:
Discover Cars is a great site for comparing car prices to find the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation:
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Or find the cheapest hostels through HostelWorld.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget travel insurance! I’m a big fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read more about why you should always carry travel insurance.
