Atlantic Rainforest

The Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica) used to cover an area of 1.5 million square kilometers and extended between the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Rio Grande do Sul. Today it encompasses only 7% of its original size. The still existing areas are found in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Paraná.

The Atlantic Rainforest is Brazil’s most endangered ecosystem, it suffered most under the population’s development. More than 50% of Brazil’s trees are found in this region. Its richness is mostly due to the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, spreading humidity and producing rain over the mountains ranges Serra do Mar and Serra da Mantiqueira, with positive results for the soil, the circulation of nourishment and climate.

Older than the Amazon

The Atlantic Rainforest is separated from the Amazon forest by the savannah.

It is also much older then the Amazon forest. The Atlantic Rainforest is 60 Million years old and the Amazon is arorund 40 million years old.

Through this natural separation the Atlantic Forest developed itself without any influence from the Amazon. There very few plants and animals that live in both areas. It isguessed that there are 131 species of animals in the Atlantic Rainforest, between them is also the small Lion Monkey, which is found only in this ecosystem.

It is said that there is a larger variety of species in the Atlantic Rainforrest then in the Amazon. There are 180 amphibians and more then 800 bird species catalogued.

Here you can find also many Bromeliads, Orchids, Philodendrons, Cacti, Tibouchinas, Ferns and much more.