Rio Doce State Park, State park and Ramsar site in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Rio Doce State Park spans a large forested area with numerous natural lakes that together form one of Brazil's largest freshwater systems. The terrain sits across three municipalities and features dense forest cover alongside open water areas.
The conservation area was established in 1944 and became the first state-level protected zone in the region at that time. Its creation was part of an early effort to preserve Atlantic Forest landscapes.
The region was home to the Borun people, who lived among the forests and lakes before Portuguese colonization arrived. Today it serves as a place where visitors come to experience and respect the natural world.
The park is open Tuesday through Sunday and offers visitors facilities including dining and overnight accommodation. Boat trips on the lakes are available, allowing guests to explore the water more closely.
One of the largest lakes here reaches significant depth and spans a broad area, making it an important habitat for many native fish species. Visitors often find this body of water particularly striking when they encounter it.
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