Tinguá Biological Reserve, Biological reserve in Serra do Tinguá mountains, Brazil.
Tinguá Biological Reserve is a protected forest area located in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, covering thousands of hectares with different types of rainforest. The woodland spans from lower to higher elevations and shelters numerous plant and animal species.
The area was originally established in 1941 to protect water sources for surrounding communities. It received its current status as a biological reserve in 1989 to strengthen conservation of the natural environment.
The name Tinguá comes from the southern general language (língua geral meridional) and designates an unidentified plant species. The reserve is a strict nature reserve (IUCN category Ia), so there are no trails, traditions or public uses inside it; the ruins of the Santana das Palmeiras parish, a settlement abandoned at the end of the 19th century, lie within its interior in an area not open to public visitation.
Access to this area requires permission and visitors typically need to join an organized group or have prior authorization. It is wise to check current access policies before visiting, as entry rules are strictly enforced.
The reserve's name comes from a term in the southern general language for an unidentified plant species. Its highest ground reaches 1,600 metres and can be seen from across Nova Iguaçu. Inside, at a spot closed to the public, lie the ruins of Santana das Palmeiras, a parish abandoned in the late 19th century.
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