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 area holds rock formations over a billion years old that shelter rare blue-winged macaws and other animal species found nowhere else. These ancient geological layers make the site especially valuable for understanding Earth's deep past.
Location: Alagoas
Location: Bahia
Location: Sergipe
Inception: 2009
GPS coordinates: -9.51470,-38.00340
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:43
Brazil's Northeast region extends from the coast to the interior, connecting national parks, colonial towns and natural areas. The landscape shifts between coastal stretches, tablelands, river deltas and protected ecosystems. Geological formations, waterfalls and historic settlements mark the territory, which covers several Brazilian states. Places in this collection include the white dunes and lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in Maranhão, the Delta do Parnaíba along the Piauí coast, and the cliffs of Morro Branco in Ceará. Jericoacoara National Park protects coastal habitats and formations such as Pedra Furada. Inland, Chapada Diamantina National Park and Chapada das Mesas National Park in Bahia and Maranhão feature tablelands, caves and waterfalls including Cachoeira do Buracão. Serra da Capivara National Park in Piauí preserves prehistoric rock paintings, while Vale do Catimbau National Park in Pernambuco is marked by rock formations. The coastal zone offers the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago off Pernambuco, marine parks at Areia Vermelha and Praia de Calhetas, and the canyons of the São Francisco River between Alagoas and Sergipe. Colonial centers such as Olinda and the historic center of João Pessoa preserve architecture from earlier centuries.
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