Nascentes do Rio Taquari State Park

Nascentes do Rio Taquari State Park is a protected area in Mato Grosso do Sul that preserves the headwaters of the Taquari River across 30,619 hectares. The land sits between the towns of Alcinópolis and Costa Rica, bringing together two different landscape types: the dry cerrado savanna and the wet pantanal wetlands.

The park was created in 1999 following operations by the Ferrovia Norte Brasil railway company in the area. Its establishment served as a compensatory measure to address the environmental effects of the railway's activities in the region.

Rock paintings and petroglyphs scattered throughout the park show how people have lived in this region for thousands of years. These ancient artworks tell the story of the earliest inhabitants of the area.

Visitors can get oriented at the park administration office in Costa Rica, where information is available. Local guides can be arranged to lead nature observation tours through the protected area.

The park contains six large canyons that carved into the Chapadão de Baús plateau over millions of years. These striking gorges mark the western edge of the Brazilian central plateau and reveal the geological story of this region.