The Tijuca National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional da Tijuca) is an urban national park located in the mountains of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is part of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Preserve and is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
The area contains secondary vegetation, which means the plants there grew back after being cut down. This happened during the Second Empire because cutting down trees for coffee farms was harming the drinking water supply of the capital city at that time. More than 230 species of animals and birds live in the park, including capuchin monkeys, coatis, agoutis, wild dogs, marmosets, hummingbirds, and thrushes.
History
Today's Tijuca National Park and nearby forests were mostly created through reforestation efforts. In the 1700s, forests around what is now Rio de Janeiro were cleared for fuel, coffee farming, and raising animals. Small streams in these forests were a major source of water for the city. Because rainfall was unpredictable, the city faced water shortages and sudden floods.
Early efforts to protect the environment began in 1817, when King Dom João VI passed a rule to stop cutting trees near the springs of the Carioca River. This helped protect the city's water supply. Between 1846 and 1847, people planted about 3,000 young trees on the edges of Corcovado Mountain, which later became the Paineiras Forest.
In 1861, Emperor Pedro II of Brazil placed the area under government control. Work began to restore the forest on empty land and hills. From 1861 to 1887, six enslaved people planted over 100,000 trees. Their names were Eleutério, Constantino, Manuel, Mateus, Leopoldo, and Maria. These individuals were enslaved by the Portuguese government and worked under the supervision of Tijuca Forest manager Major Manuel Gomes Archer.
The project used places where young plants grew, such as seedbeds and nurseries. Seedlings were moved from the nearby Pedra Branca Massif. While some non-native plants were used, the project mainly focused on native Brazilian trees, including canjerana, garapiapunha, and sapucaia. In the 1880s, this forest plan expanded with the creation of the Andaraí Grande and Jacarepaguá Forests.
Around this time, a cog railway was built to take passengers to the top of Corcovado. Between 1922 and 1931, the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer was constructed.
In 1961, Tijuca Forest was named a national park. In 2011, the Carioca Mosaic was created, which includes the park. In 2012, UNESCO recognized the landscapes around Rio de Janeiro, including the park, as a World Heritage Site.
Geography
Tijuca National Park is said to be the world's largest urban forest, covering about 39.58 square kilometers (15.28 square miles). However, this claim is not agreed upon by everyone, as Johannesburg, South Africa, also claims a similar title.
The park is named after the nearby neighborhoods of Tijuca and Barra da Tijuca. The word "Tijuca" comes from the Tupi language and means "marsh," which refers to the Tijuca Lagoon in Barra da Tijuca.
The park is located in a mountainous area that includes the Tijuca Massif. It has several notable peaks, such as Pedra da Gávea, Corcovado, and Pico da Tijuca. The forest and mountains form a natural boundary that separates the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro from the rest of the city and also divides the North and South Zones.
One favela, called Mata Machado, is located within the Tijuca Forest. Its residents are mostly descendants of people who moved to the area in the 1930s to help with reforestation efforts. Although conditions have improved recently due to the Favela-Bairro Project, the favela still harms the environment in the forest.
The park is home to hundreds of plant and animal species, many of which are at risk of extinction and are found only in the Atlantic Forest biome. One example is the Critically Endangered tree species Annona ferruginea, which is found only in the park. Scientists estimate that the dense vegetation lowers temperatures in nearby areas by up to 9°C. The forest also includes about 30 waterfalls.
Because of reforestation efforts in the late 19th century, about half of the park’s area has a mix of around 30 native tree species and 10 introduced species. The forest is currently threatened by frequent human-caused fires, which are worsened by the growth of more flammable grasses that replace native plants.
Tourism
The park is close to the city and is very popular with visitors. In 2016, it had 3,305,010 visitors. The park has many attractions, including the large statue of Christ the Redeemer. Other attractions include Cascatinha Waterfall, the Mayrink Chapel with murals painted by Cândido Portinari, the pagoda-style gazebo at Vista Chinesa, and a large granite table called the Mesa do Imperador ("Emperor's Table").
There are many hiking trails in the park. Common trail destinations include Diamantina's waterfall, Parrot's Beak (Bico do Papagaio), Tijuca's Peak (Pico da Tijuca), Cave Circuit (Circuito das Grutas), Archer's Hill (Morro do Archer), Anhanguera's Hill (Morro da Anhanguera), the Excelsior Lookout (Mirante do Excelsior), and Bat's Cave (Caverna dos Morcegos).