Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó

Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó

Situation and Characteristics

The Serra da Cipó National Park (area 33,800 hectares/83,500 acres; established 1984) lies at one end of the Serra do Espinhaço, 72km/45mi north-east of Lagoa Santa (on the road to Conceição do Mato Dentro) and 110km/68mi from Belo Horizonte (on MG 010). It contains numerous canyons and caves with prehistoric rock paintings. It is predominantly highland steppe country at altitudes of around 1600m/5250ft, with plants growing between rocks or in the sparse sandy soil. Within the park can be found 56 different species of mammals, including ocelots, otters, anteaters and maned wolves, and 150 species of birds. On the rivers and streams in the Rio São Francisco and