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Savanna and HighlandsThe National Park Serra do Cipó was founded in 1984. It encompasses a total area of 33.800 hectares and covers an extension of 154 km. It is located in the State of Minas Gerais in the southern part of the mountain range Serra do Espinhaço, at 1.100-1.600 meters altitude.
With a high-altitude climate, with fresh summer temperatures and a well-defined dry season, it has average temperatures of 22 degrees Celsius and an average amount of 1.622 mm precipitation. There, visitors find the Cerrado (savanna) and the Campos de Altitude (highlands), two highly interesting and very sensitive ecosystems.
There, visitors can find pre-historical paintings and archeological sites.
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Magnificent waterfallsThe Cipó River crosses the National Park and its tributaries fall from many heights, forming several cascades and waterfalls of fascinating beauty, as the 270-meter high Cachoeira da Farofa, for example, which falls through seven layers, pouring into an inviting natural pool.
In addition, there are the waterfalls known as Usina and Congonhas through the Canyon das Bandeirinhas, stretching over 4 km and leading to the Cachoeira das Braúnas, with a free fall of 65 m into a natural pool.
Other waterfalls worth visiting as well are Véu da Noiva, Cachoeira de Baixo, Cachoeira Grande, Cachoeira Capivara and Cachoeira dos Confins.
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Pre-historical rock paintingsThe Park’s name originates from its densely interwoven lianas (Cipós), forming true walls in certain stretches of the forest.
The plant world in this area is highly endemic and rare, as for example, the up to four-meter high Velosias. In these areas visitors find bromeliads, orchids, cactuses and the Matas de Galerias (Gallery Forests) with rare trees covered by epiphytes.
Often there are Quaresmeiras (Tibouchina granulosa), Copaíbas (Copaifera officinalis, Lin.), (Helichrysum bracteatum, Andr.) and cactuses to see.
The animal world in the area harbors many not well known species. Also among the animals are many endemic species especially insects and amphibians. As anywhere else, there are some endangered species as well: the Brazilian wolf Lobo-Guará (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the wild dog Cachorro-do-mato-vinagre (Speothos venaticus), Tamanduá-Bandeira Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Veado-Campeiro (Ozotocerus bezoarticus), Onça Parda Puma (Puma concolor) and Gato-maracajá (Felis macrura) and, also rare but still present, caimans.
There, visitors can find pre-historical paintings and archeological sites.
[Photo album]
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