Parcel de Manuel Luís Marine State Park, Marine state park in Maranhão, Brazil.
Parcel de Manuel Luis Marine State Park is a marine protected area off the Maranhao coast with extensive coral reefs and rich underwater life. The area spans tens of thousands of hectares of Atlantic Ocean and forms one of the most important marine ecosystems along Brazil's northern coast.
The protected area was created in 1991 to safeguard marine habitats from overfishing and environmental damage. International recognition followed in 2000 when it was designated as a Ramsar site for its global importance as a wetland.
The area supports rare marine species and draws researchers who study the coral ecosystem. For the region, this protection means preserving a resource that has shaped local fishing for generations.
The area is reachable from mainland only by organized boat trips or scientific expeditions and is subject to strict environmental regulations. Visitors should prepare for weather forecasts and sea conditions, as the remote ocean location means rough waters and limited access windows.
The area is the final resting place for over 200 ships, including the German vessel Uberaba that ran aground on the reef in 1921. These sunken wrecks now form an unexpected underwater landscape that fascinates both divers and historians alike.
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