Baixada Maranhense Environmental Protection Area, Environmental Protection Area in Maranhão, Brazil
The Baixada Maranhense is a vast protection area featuring wetlands, floodplains, mangrove forests, rivers, and lagoons spread across numerous municipalities. The landscape shifts between swampy lowlands, open water bodies, and dense vegetation, with clay soil retaining water during wet seasons.
The Brazilian government created this protected area in 1991 through official decree to preserve the ecosystems. International recognition came a few years later when it was designated as a Ramsar site.
Communities here have long practiced fishing, rice farming, and buffalo herding, activities that shape daily life and local traditions. These occupations remain central to how people relate to the land and support themselves.
The area experiences heavy flooding from December through July when rainfall transforms the landscape into waterlogged terrain. Visitors should prepare for wet conditions and bring sturdy footwear and waterproof gear.
The area contains floating islands vegetated with buriti palms, a rare ecological feature found in few places. It also serves as a critical refuge for threatened species including manatees and colorful parakeets.
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