Ilha do Mel State Park, State park on coastal island in Paranaguá, Brazil
Ilha do Mel State Park is a protected area on an island off the coast of Paraná covering several hundred hectares of natural environment. The landscape consists of sandy beaches, mangrove wetlands, and rocky cliffs where the Atlantic Forest meets the shore.
A military fortress was built on the island in 1769 to defend the coastline, and it remained an important structure for coastal protection. The park itself was established in the 2000s to preserve the natural habitats and archaeological sites found across the island.
The Fortress of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres shapes the island's character with its 18th-century military architecture visible throughout the site. Walking through these structures, visitors experience the connection to this period of coastal defense.
The island is accessible only by boat, with regular departures from the nearby towns of Pontal do Sul and Paranaguá. The site maintains a daily visitor limit to protect the natural environment from overcrowding.
A lighthouse from 1872 stands on the island as part of an imperial construction project to improve maritime safety. The structure still operates today and guides ships along this stretch of the Brazilian coast.
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