Chapada Diamantina National Park

Chapada Diamantina National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
Chapada Diamantina NP
Location	Bahia, Brasil
Coordinates	12°52′49″S 41°22′20″W / 12.88028°S 41.37222°W / -12.88028; -41.37222Coordinates: 12°52′49″S 41°22′20″W / 12.88028°S 41.37222°W / -12.88028; -41.37222
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 the State of Bahia, Northeast Brazil. The park is located between 41º35’-41º15’W and 12º25’-13º20’S; about 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-19th century.

History

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

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. In this place is located the highest point of state in Pico do Barbado with 2,036 meters. The park is typified by hills, mountains, valleys and monoliths, with few plains.

Access

Weekly flights by TRIP Linhas Aéreas links Horácio de Mattos Airport, the gateway of Chapada Diamantina, with Salvador da Bahia, the capital of the state. There are buses leaving the Salvador Bus Station daily.

Geology

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

Flora and fauna

Typical flora of the Chapada Diamantina

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.

Principal cities and towns in and near the park

• Lençóis
• Palmeiras
• Andaraí
• Mucugé
• Vale Do Capao
• Seabra
• Iraquara

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chapada Diamantina.

• (English) (French) (Dutch) Chapada Diamantina - Tourism Information in your language
• Chapada Diamantina - Photos and Tips

Protected areas of Brazil National parks Abrolhos Alto Ribeira State and Tourist Park Amazônia Aparados da Serra Araguaia Araucárias Brasília Cabo Orange Campos Gerais Caparaó Cavernas do Peruaçu Chapada das Mesas Chapada Diamantina Chapada dos Guimarães Chapada dos Veadeiros Emas Fernando de Noronha Furna Feia Grande Sertão Veredas Iguaçu Ilha Grande Itatiaia Jacupiranga Jaú Jericoacoara Jurubatiba Juruena Lençóis Maranhenses Monte Pascoal Monte Roraima Nascentes Pacaás Novos Pantanal Matogrossense Pau Brasil Pedra Azul Pico da Neblina Pontões Capixabas Lagoa do Peixe Saint-Hilaire São Joaquim Sempre Vivas Serra da Bocaina Serra da Bodoquena Serra da Canastra Serra da Capivara Serra da Cutia Serra de Itabaiana Serra da Mocidade Serra do Cipó Serra do Divisor Serra do Itajaí Serra do Pardo Serra dos Órgãos Serra Geral Sete Cidades Superagüi Terra Ronca Tijuca Tumucumaque Ubajara Vale do Catimbau Viruá Xingu Biological reserves Abufari Andradina Apiacás Atol das Rocas Augusto Banhados do Delta Canela Preta Carmo da Mata Colônia 31 de Março Comboios Córrego de Veado Córrego Grande Fazenda São Mateus Fontes do Ipiranga Guaporé Guaratiba Guaribas Gurupi Ibirapuitã Ilha do Cabo Frio Jaíba Jaru Lago Piratuba Lami José Lutzenberger Lapinha Maracá Marinha do Arvoredo Mata do Acauã Mata do Jambreiro Mata dos Ausentes Mata Paludosa Mogi-Guaçu Pedra Talhada Perobas Pindorama Poço das Antas Praia do Sul Biological Reserve Professor José Ângelo Rizzo Rio Trombetas Saltinho Santa Isabel Santa Rita São Camilo São Donato São Sebastião do Paraíso Serra Negra Sooretama Tamboré Tapirapé Tinguá Uatumã Una Vila Facchini Ecological reserves Alcobaça Ilha dos Lobos Juami-Japurá Jutaí-Solimões Raso RECOR Sauim-Castanheiras Ecological stations Anavilhanas Aracuri Caracaraí Carijós Guaraqueçaba Iquê Jari Juami-Japurá Maracá Maracá-Jipioca Niquiá Pirapitinga Rio Acre Seridó Serra das Araras Taiamã Taim Tamoios Tupinambás Tupiniquins Uruçui-Una Environmental protection areas Anhatomirim Bacia do Rio Descoberto Bacia do Rio São Bartolomeu Barra do Rio Cairuçu Cananéia-Iguape Carste Cavernas do Peruaçu Fernando de Noronha Guaraqueçaba Ibirapuitã Igarapé Gelado Jericoacoara Morro da Pedreira Petrópolis Piaçabuçu Quapi-Mirim Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago Serra da Mantiqueira Serra de Tabatinga