Intervales State Park, State park in Ribeirão Grande, Brazil.
Intervales State Park covers 41,704 hectares of Atlantic Forest across the Serra de Paranapiacaba, from about 900 to 1,200 metres in Ribeirão Grande down to floodplains at 80 metres in Sete Barras. Its name means "between the valleys", as it sits on the watershed between the Ribeira de Iguape and Paranapanema basins. The park holds caves, waterfalls and over twenty monitored trails, with its headquarters, lodgings and restaurant in Ribeirão Grande.
The land began as Fazenda Intervales farm and was managed by Banco Banespa until 1986. It became a state park in 1995, transforming from agricultural use to protected natural area.
The park's name means "between the valleys", from its position on top of the Serra de Paranapiacaba between the Ribeira de Iguape and Paranapanema basins. Monitors guiding visitors are local residents with practical knowledge of the fauna and flora; some are sought out in advance by foreign researchers and birdwatchers to locate rare species. The Chapel of Santo Inácio e Encanados, on the border with the Xitué Ecological Station, is noted for its historical and cultural interest.
The park accommodates around 100 guests and provides a restaurant and environmental monitoring center for visitors. The various trails are well-marked, though the mountainous terrain requires proper footwear and physical preparation.
Intervales is one of the few places worldwide hosting a "Project A.P.E." geocache, part of the GeoTour "A.P.E. Brasil", which draws geocachers from other countries. Local guides are also sought out in advance by foreign researchers and birdwatchers for their skill at finding rare species.
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