Rio São Francisco Natural Monument, Natural monument along São Francisco River in Alagoas, Bahia, and Sergipe, Brazil.
The Rio São Francisco Natural Monument spreads across multiple states and features deep canyons where the river cuts through ancient sandstone layers. The area provides diverse habitats supporting a range of plant and animal life.
Federal authorities created this protected area in 2009 to safeguard natural ecosystems and support the region's future. The designation recognized the need to balance conservation with local development.
The river region holds deep meaning for local people who fish and farm as their ancestors did, shaping how they live within this landscape. This way of life remains visible in daily practices and connections to the water.
Guided boat tours through the river canyons offer the best way to explore this area, with departure points available from several locations. Plan your visit around river conditions and local weather patterns.
The monument protects the sandstone formations of the Malhada Grande / Rio do Sal complex in Paulo Afonso, rock sites more than a billion years old with their own flora and endemic species. Among the animals recorded here are the endangered blue-winged macaw (Primolius maracana) and a newly reported skink of the genus Mabuya.
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