Desengano State Park, State park in northern Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Desengano State Park is a conservation area in the northern part of Rio de Janeiro state, covering land across three municipalities with dense Atlantic Forest, mountain peaks, and river valleys. The terrain rises from lower elevations to around 5,774 feet (1,760 meters), where open alpine meadows replace the thick forest canopy.
This park was established in April 1970 as the first officially protected conservation area in Rio de Janeiro state. Its creation came at a time when the Atlantic Forest had already lost much of its original cover, making the decision to protect this stretch of land a turning point for the region.
Communities whose families have lived in these mountains for generations still exist alongside the park today, carrying deep knowledge of the forest. You can sense their presence in the trails they shaped and the small settlements visible at the park's edges.
The park has marked hiking trails with set entry points, and some lead to waterfalls such as Vernec and Bonita. Trails vary a lot in difficulty, so checking what each one involves before you set out will help you choose the right one for your pace.
Researchers have recorded over 400 bird species in the park, with more than 280 of them found specifically in the high-altitude meadows at the top. These open grasslands at elevation create conditions rare elsewhere in the region and attract species you would not find lower down.
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