| Tijuca National Park | |
|---|---|
| Parque Nacional da Tijuca | |
 View ofPedra da Gávea | |
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| Nearest city | Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro |
| Coordinates | 22°57′34″S43°16′40″W / 22.95944°S 43.27778°W /-22.95944; -43.27778 |
| Area | 3,958.41 ha |
| Designation | National park |
| Created | 1961 |
| Visitors | 3,305,010 (in 2016) |
| Administrator | ICMBio |
 Interactive map of Tijuca National Park | |
| Criteria | Natural: v, vi |
| Reference | 1100 |
| Inscription | 2012 (36thSession) |
TheTijuca National Park (Portuguese:Parque Nacional da Tijuca) is an urbannational park in the mountains of the city ofRio de Janeiro, Brazil. The park is part of theAtlantic Forest Biosphere Preserve,[1] and is administered by theChico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
The area is composed of secondaryvegetation, as it is the result ofreforestation carried out during theSecond Empire, when it became clear thatdeforestation caused bycoffeefarms was harming the drinkingwater supply of the then capital of theEmpire. More than 230species of animals and birds live in the park, includingcapuchin monkeys,coatis,agoutis, wild dogs,marmosets,hummingbirds andthrushes.[2]
The contemporary Tijuca National Park and its surrounding forests are largely the result ofreforestation. In the 1700s, forests in the future park aroundRio de Janeiro were cleared for fuel, coffee growing, and livestock.[3] The small streams in the former forest were a significant source of the city's water supply, and, with variable rainfall, the city began to experience water shortages andflash floods.
Early conservation efforts began in 1817, when KingDom João VI issued a decree prohibiting the cutting of trees surrounding the springs of theCarioca River to protect the city's water supply. This was followed by experimental plantings between 1846 and 1847 on the outskirts ofCorcovado Mountain, where approximately 3,000 seedlings were planted in what would become the Paineiras Forest.[4]
Emperor Pedro II of Brazil established federal control over the area in 1861, and efforts began to restore the former forest on the bare slopes and abandoned fields.[5] The re-planting of trees was carried out by 6 enslaved persons. Their names were Eleutério, Constantino, Manuel, Mateus, Leopoldo, and Maria. These people were enslaved by the Portuguese government and under the supervision of the Tijuca Forest manager Major Manuel Gomes Archer.[6]
From 1861 to 1887, they planted over 100,000 trees.[3] The project utilized seedbeds and nurseries to cultivate seedlings, including those transplanted from the neighboringPedra Branca Massif. Although some exotic species were used, the project prioritized native Brazilian flora, specifically hardwoods such ascanjerana,garapiapunha, andsapucaia. In the 1880s, this forest policy was expanded with the creation of the Andaraí Grande and Jacarepaguá Forests.[4]
Around this time, acog railway was built to carry passengers to the top ofCorcovado, and between 1922 and 1931 the famous statueChrist the Redeemer was built.[7]
In 1961, Tijuca Forest was declared anational park,[3] and in 2011, theCarioca Mosaic was established,[8] including the park. In 2012,UNESCO designated the landscapes around Rio de Janeiro, including the park, as aWorld Heritage Site.[9]
Tijuca National Park is claimed to be the world's largesturban forest,[1] covering some 39.58 square kilometres (15.28 sq mi),[10] although this title is disputed withJohannesburg,South Africa.[11]
The park shares its name with thebairros (neighborhoods) ofTijuca andBarra da Tijuca nearby. The wordTijuca comes from theTupi language and meansmarsh, a reference to the Tijuca Lagoon in the contemporary Barra da Tijuca.
It is located in a mountainous region which encompasses the Tijuca Massif. Among its impressive peaks are thePedra da Gávea,Corcovado andPico da Tijuca. The forest and mountains form a natural boundary that separates the West Zone of Rio from the rest of the city, as well as dividing the North andSouth Zones.
Onefavela exists in the Tijuca Forest, called Mata Machado. Its inhabitants are mainly the descendants of those who migrated to the region in the 1930s to take part in the replanting effort. Though conditions have improved recently under the Favela-Bairro Project, it still contributes toenvironmental degradation in the forest.[12]
Ecology
The Forest is home to hundreds of species ofplants andwildlife, many threatened byextinction, and found only in theAtlantic Forestbiome. The vegetation is so dense that scientists have estimated that ambient temperatures in surrounding areas have been lowered by up to 9 °C. The forest also contains some 30 waterfalls.[13]
Due to the reforestation efforts of the late 19th century, about half of the area of a park is a mix of about 30 native tree species and tenintroduced species.[1] It is currently threatened by frequent, accidental fires set by humans, a problem compounded by colonization by more flammable grasses displacing native vegetation.[1]
Given its proximity to the city, the park receives heavy use: in 2016, the park received 3,305,010 visitors.[14] The park contains a number of attractions, most famously the colossal sculpture ofChrist the Redeemer. Other attractions include the Cascatinha Waterfall; the Mayrink Chapel, with murals painted byCândido Portinari; the pagoda-style gazebo atVista Chinesa; and a giantgranite table called theMesa do Imperador ("Emperor's Table").
There are numeroushiking trails. Common destinations are: 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 the Bat's Cave (Caverna dos Morcegos).
:12 was invoked but never defined (see thehelp page).
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