Anavilhanas National Park, National park in Novo Airão, Brazil
Anavilhanas National Park is a river archipelago in the Rio Negro, with more than 400 islands spread over about 130 kilometres. The flooded forest shows tree trunks rising straight from dark water, their bark rough and twisted, and a single green sprig emerging near the surface. Channels run between the islands, linking the forest and the river.
The area was established as an ecological station in 1981 and gained national park status in 2008. This change reflected growing focus on protecting the Amazon region and its valuable habitats.
The park's name comes from the Tupi-Guarani language, referring to a place of many islands. Subsistence fishing is permitted for surrounding communities, while hunting, logging and mining are banned. Visitors may notice the seasonal rhythm of the Rio Negro, whose water level shapes daily routines along the shores.
Boat tours depart from Novo Airão and travel through river channels between the islands, with local guides who know the routes. It works best to go early in the day for wildlife viewing and to experience the water at its calmest.
The park holds more than 400 islands, yet it is not the world's largest river archipelago: Mariuá, in Barcelos, has about 700. The Rio Negro's seasonal rise and fall of roughly 10 metres reshapes the channels each year, and protected species include the giant otter, Amazonian manatee and pink river dolphin.
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