Encontro das Águas State Park, State park in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Encontro das Águas State Park is a vast protected area spread between Poconé and Barão de Melgaço, where rivers and wetlands form an interconnected landscape. The park's backbone consists of several major river systems that converge at different points, creating a complex network of waterways.

The state of Mato Grosso created this protected area in 2004 to safeguard the Pantanal region and its ecosystems. This decision represented a turning point for conservation efforts in the area.

Fishing is banned within 2 km of the park, a rule that applies only on the Mato Grosso side and not across the Piquirí River in Mato Grosso do Sul. About 40 riverine families in Mato Grosso depend on fishing to survive, and the ban has caused them hardship. The park's name, Encontro das Águas, refers to the meeting of its rivers.

The best way to explore the area is by boat from nearby towns, where organized trips depart regularly. Visitors should come prepared for water conditions and be patient when watching for wildlife.

The park holds a large jaguar population that preys on the capybaras and caimans common in the Pantanal. Sightings have reportedly declined, and jaguars now move away from boats faster than before. An eco-lodge in the park was closed by court order in 2009; its American owner then built a camp across the Piquiri River in Mato Grosso do Sul, accused of using bait animals such as pigs, sheep and caimans.