Caparaó National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional do Caparaó) is a national park established in 1961 to preserve the Caparaó Mountains. It is located on the border between the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo in Brazil. Pico da Bandeira, one of the tallest mountains in Brazil, is found within the park.

Location

The park was established by a government order numbered 50146 on May 24, 1961. President Jânio Quadros created it to protect natural resources and support ecotourism. It covers an area of about 31,800 hectares (79,000 acres) and is located in the Serra do Caparaó region, where the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo meet. Approximately 80% of the park is in Espírito Santo. It includes parts of the municipalities of Alto Caparaó, Alto Jequitibá, Caparaó, and Espera Feliz in Minas Gerais, and of Dores do Rio Preto, Divino de São Lourenço, Ibitirama, Iúna, and Irupi in Espírito Santo. The park became part of the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor in 2002.

The park’s elevation ranges from 997 to 2,890 meters (3,271 to 9,482 feet). It includes Pico da Bandeira, the third highest mountain in Brazil, which reaches 2,892 meters (9,488 feet). Ten other peaks in the park are more than 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) high. The park helps protect the watersheds of the Itabapoana, Itapemirim, and Doce rivers. Annual rainfall averages about 1,000 millimeters (39 inches). Temperatures typically range from 19 to 22°C (66 to 72°F). However, during winter months (June and July), freezing temperatures are common at higher elevations.

Biota

The Serra do Caparaó has an important area of Atlantic Forest, including special alpine meadows. The park is home to many species of plants and animals that are found only there and are at risk of disappearing. On the east side in Espírito Santo, the main type of vegetation is tropical rainforest. On the drier west side in Minas Gerais, tropical rainforest grows up to 1,800 meters (5,900 feet). Above that, there is a high-altitude forest with brushwood up to 2,400 meters (7,900 feet). Beyond that, open fields are found among rocky areas. Plants in higher areas have adapted to grow in rocky soil, cold temperatures, and ice layers.

Animal life has been affected by hunting, but the park still protects endangered species like the southern muriqui, maned wolf, and pampas deer. The park is also home to other animals, including jaguars, tapirs, harpy eagles, black-fronted piping guans, and solitary tinamous.

Facilities

The park has entrances in the municipality of Alto Caparaó, Minas Gerais, where the park headquarters are located, and in the municipality of Dores do Rio Preto, Espírito Santo. The entrance in Minas Gerais was opened in September 1998. The visitor center includes space for exhibitions, an auditorium that holds 64 people, restrooms, a gift shop, and a snack bar. Access to the park is managed. Visitors are not allowed to bring pets, hunting or fishing gear, collect plants, fruit, animals, or stones, or use two-wheeled vehicles. The park has many hiking trails and four camping areas for visitors, each with bathrooms and other facilities.

• Minas Gerais entrance
• Farofa waterfall
• Atlantic rainforest
• Araucária
• Pico do cristal