Parque Nacional do Jaú

Parque Nacional do Jaú

The Jaú National Forest, the largest forest reserve in the whole of South America (2,272,000 hectares/5,680,000 acres), extends along the Rio Negro around Novo Airão, some 250km/155mi (12 hours by boat) north-west of Manaus. It has an extraordinarily rich fauna, including such rare and endangered species as the manatee and the Brazilian otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). The park must be explored on foot or by canoe in order to avoid disturbing the animals.