Pico da Neblina National Park, National park in northern Amazonas, Brazil
Pico da Neblina is a national park in northern Amazonas, Brazil, encompassing over 2 million hectares of tropical rainforest. The terrain ranges from lowland areas along the Rio Negro to mountain ridges that include the country's highest peaks.
President João Figueiredo created the protected area in 1979 to safeguard the natural resources and biodiversity of this Amazon region. The establishment marked a significant effort to preserve one of Brazil's last large wilderness territories.
The park overlaps with several indigenous territories: the Yanomami territory covers about half of it, and the Balaio territory lies 93.73% inside its western part. The Yanomami call the two peaks Yaripo and Masiripiwei. Some 46 communities of Yanomami, Tucano, Baniwa, Baré and other groups live in these territories. The park has been closed to public visits since 2003.
The park was closed to the public from 2003 after uncontrolled tourism harmed resident communities and the environment; a management plan was published in 2022 and tourism reopened that year. Access is by boat on the Igarapé Itamirim or the Cauaburi and Sá rivers, or by small plane from Manaus. Researchers need ICMBio authorization, plus FUNAI approval for indigenous land.
The park contains Brazil's two highest mountains: Pico da Neblina at 3,014 meters (9,888 feet) and Pico 31 de Março at 2,992 meters (9,817 feet). These peaks are rarely visited and offer climbers a genuine challenge in a remote setting.
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