Chapada Diamantina National Park

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Chapada Diamantina National Park
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location:	Bahia, Brasil
Area:	1,520 km²
Established:	1980s

The Chapada Diamantina National Park (Parque Nacional da Chapada Diamantina in Portuguese) is a 1,520 km² national park in the Chapada Diamantina region of Bahia state in the Northeast of Brazil. The park is located between 41º35’-41º15’W and 12º25’-13º20’S; approximately 400 kilometres inland from Salvador, the capital city of Bahia.

Chapada is a Brazilian word that means a region of steep cliffs, usually at the edge of a plateau. Diamantina refers to the diamonds found there in the mid 1800s.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Geology
4 Flora and fauna
5 Principal cities and towns in and near the park
6 External links

[edit] History

The park was created in the 1980s in response to growing ecotourism.

[edit] Geography

The region is semi-arid, however it has no shortage of water, from the many rivers and streams. On average, the altitude of the park is between 800 and 1000 metres above sea level, although parts are as high as 2000 metres above. The park is typified by hills, mountains, valleys and monoliths, with few plains.

[edit] Geology

Many cave systems were formed by the rivers that run through the region. Several of these rivers run red due to impurities in the water. Both gold and diamonds have been found there.

[edit] Flora and fauna

The flora and fauna are highly varied. Although there are few large mammals, there is a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and small mammals. The flora mainly consists of small scrubland bushes, orchids and cactus.