The Pico Paraná State Park () is a

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "Federated state, state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on accou ...

in the state of

Paraná Paraná, Paranã or Parana may refer to: Geology * Paraná Basin, a sedimentary basin in South America Places In Argentina *Paraná, Entre Ríos, a city * Paraná Department, a part of Entre Ríos Province In Brazil *Paraná (state), a state ...

, Brazil. It protects a well-preserved area of Atlantic Forest, and contains a massif that includes the highest peak in the south of Brazil. The environment is strictly protected, but visitors in good physical condition may climb the massif.

Location

The Pico Paraná State Park is in the municipalities of Campina Grande do Sul and Antonina, with an area of . It is part of the Lagamar Mosaic. The

Pico Paraná Pico Paraná is the highest mountain in the Brazilian state of Paraná and in all Southern Brazil. It is composed of granite and gneiss. It was discovered by German explorer Reinhard Maack. Although this area has been previously inhabited by in ...

is the highest point in the south of Brazil at above sea level in the Serra Ibitiraquire. It takes six to ten hours to walk from the park entrance to the summit. Visitors must be in good physical condition and should be in a group or with an experienced guide. The park protects a stretch of the best preserved Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The park adjoins the Graciosa State Park to the south and the Roberto Ribas Lange State Park to the north. The forest is lush and dense, with trees up to high as well as shrubs, creepers and a great variety of bromeliads, orchids and ferns. Fauna include 71 species of mammals including

howler monkey Howler monkeys (genus ''Alouatta'', monotypic in subfamily Alouattinae) are the most widespread primate genus in the Neotropical realm, Neotropics and are among the largest of the New World monkey, platyrrhines along with the muriquis (''Brachyte ...

squirrel Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae (), a family that includes small or medium-sized rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrel ...

paca A paca ia a rodent in South and Central America. Paca or PACA may also refer to: People * William Paca (1740–1799), a Founding Father of the United States * Paca Blanco (Francisca Blanco Díaz, born 1949), Spanish activist * Paca Navas (Franc ...

hedgehog A hedgehog is a spiny mammal of the subfamily Erinaceinae, in the eulipotyphlan family Erinaceidae. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. The ...

coati Coatis (from Tupí), also known as coatimundis (), are members of the family Procyonidae in the genera '' Nasua'' and '' Nasuella'' (comprising the subtribe Nasuina). They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, Mexico, ...

common agouti The agouti (, ) or common agouti is any of several rodent species of the genus ''Dasyprocta''. They are native to Central America, northern and central South America, and the southern Lesser Antilles. Some species have also been introduced else ...

ocelot The ocelot (''Leopardus pardalis'') is a medium-sized spotted Felidae, wild cat that reaches at the shoulders and weighs between on average. It is native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, Central and South America, ...

and the endangered

jaguar The jaguar (''Panthera onca'') is a large felidae, cat species and the only extant taxon, living member of the genus ''Panthera'' that is native to the Americas. With a body length of up to and a weight of up to , it is the biggest cat spe ...

and

cougar The cougar (''Puma concolor'') (, ''Help:Pronunciation respelling key, KOO-gər''), also called puma, mountain lion, catamount and panther is a large small cat native to the Americas. It inhabits North America, North, Central America, Cent ...

History

The Pico Paraná State Park was created by state governor decree 5769 of 5 June 2002 from two areas of vacant land in the Marumbi Special Area of Tourist Interest. The objectives are to conserve a sample of dense montane and high montane rainforest, the fauna, soil and interior waters, and to promote activities that do not affect the ecosystem and that make preservation sustainable. The park was to be administered by the Paraná Institute of the Environment (IAP), which was to prepare and approve a management plan within five years.

Notes

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pico Paraná State Park State parks of Brazil Protected areas of Paraná (state) 2002 establishments in Brazil