Serra do Divisor National Park
| Serra do Divisor National Park | |
|---|---|
|
IUCN category II (national park) | |
|
Moa River in Serra do Divisor National Park | |
  Location within Brazil | |
| Location | Acre, Brazil |
| Coordinates | 8°22′S 73°20′W / 8.36°S 73.33°WCoordinates: 8°22′S 73°20′W / 8.36°S 73.33°W[1] |
| Area | 8,463 km2 (3,268 sq mi) |
| Established | 1989 |
| -- | |
Serra do Divisor National Park is a 8,463 km2 (3,268 sq mi) national park on the westernmost point of Brazil, in the state of Acre, near Peruvian border. It is also the highest point in that state, reaching 609 meters above sea level. It has been nominated by the Brazilian government as a Tentative World Heritage Site since 1998.
In 2013, Rainforest Trust launched a campaign to fund the establishment of another national park in the same area on the Peruvian side of the border.[2][3]
Climate
The climate is hot and humid tropical, with one to two month dry season. The average temperature in a year is +24°C, with 1.750 to 2.000 mm total /year.
Geomorphology
Altitude: 200-600 m. Hilly and mountainous with large alluvial plains and some low tabular plateaus. Separating the two basins of Rio Ucayali (Peru) and Juruá (Brazil), the Park shelters main sources of Jurua 's left margin affluent. It is structured in four main hill massifs (Serras da Jaquirana, do Moa, do Jurua-Mirim & do Rio Branco), separated by flat plains and valleys of the corresponding affluent of the Juruá basin. Margins of the lower section of the Juruá and Moa rivers are regularly to permanently inundated, having lots of lakes, igapós and igarapés. Higher up, are found some tabular well drained areas (250 m). Higher still, the landscape is mostly made of hills of up to 300 m with poorly marked valleys. The four sierras culminate up to 600 m, with asymmetric limestone crests dividing the basins.
Wild life
Vegetation: Rapid ecological assessment survey in 1991 characterised 10 forest types within the Park and recorded biodiversity. Most of the area is covered by open rainforest with palm trees or bamboos, dense and open sub-mountain rainforests, and dense and open alluvial rainforests (Periodically-inundated forests). All forest types show quite differentiated structure, flora and tree species dominance. Open forest grows on poorly drained, wet or inundated soils. Palm-trees become more frequent on wetter soils. On dryer soils grow the dense lowland rainforests (Not-flooded forests) Open sub-mountain forests grow on the lower hillsides. Dense sub-mountain forests appear on the higher slopes. On the tops grows a " Low forest" with typical and rare sub-Andean species. Open alluvial forests grow on river margins frequently inundated by muddy waters. Dense alluvial forests appear in less frequently inundated areas.
Fauna: Rapid Ecological Assessment allowed to count in one month: 43 big mammal species, more than 100 amphibian and 30 reptile species, 485 bird species, 6 families, 33 genres and 55 species of bats, 21 genres and 64 species of Hymenopteres, and finally: 29 spider families (in the northem sector of the park, only). Of these, 17 mammals, 4 reptiles and 20 birds are considered to be threatened or rare species. Two new bird species were discovered. Local Population 1.200 families.
People
Amazonian population live within or just at the margin of the Park's limits, most of whom have been collecting rubber for several generations. Low rubber prices induced these populations to start new and unsustainable activities, like cow ranching, timber cutting, commercial hunting and fishing and animal capturing, as well as fossils and stones trade. These activities are still incipient. It is planned to remove most of the population towards other, more favourable areas. The remaining population, having deep knowledge of the area, may be involved in the Park's surveillance, maintenance and tourism activities.
Access and infrastructure Main access is by boat, on the Moa or Jurua rivers, from the City of Cruzeiro do Sul. It has no tourism infrastructure.
Tourism
There is no infrastructure for visitors. In order to access the national park, visitors must make their way to Cruzeiro Do Sul, a town of about 50,000 Brasilians. If coming by bus, you'll need to leave from the city of Rio Branco. The ride is anywhere from 14 to 17 hours on a passable but very bumpy dirt and tar road. The cost is $112 reals ($34 US). If coming from Puerto Maldonado Peru, you can find a Peruvian collectivo taxi for $30 soles into the town of Inapari at the international border (4 hour ride). The town across the border is where Brasilain bus service begins. There is bus service from this town of Assiss Brasil for $50 real ($17 US) into Rio Branco.The ride is 6 hours into Rio Branco from Assisis Brasil. There are taxi's everywhere and they will pressure you to make the the trip in their taxi's for double or triple what the bus service charges from Assisis Brasil. The bus from Assisis Brasil leaves at 6am getting into Rio Branco at about 1pm. Then you take an overnight at 630pm or next day bus leaving at 8am into Cruzeiro Do Sul. I don't recommend the overnight bus. It is extremely uncomfortable and makes for very sore muscles and fatigue. Once in Cruzeiro Do Sul, hotel Mosso is a nice hotel with friendly staff. Rooms are $60 reals ($20 US) per night. Good breakfast and very close to the town square where amazing bbq, yucca and salad are served at night for $11 reals. From Cruzeiro Do Sul, find a ride to Mancio Lima and ask for George at the Hotel Voyage. He runs a motorized boat into the national park for $800 reals ($275 US). There are some other park guides and they can charge up to $1000 reals ($340 US) for the same trip. Bargaining is normal in the Amazon and in no way disrespectful. If coming into Rio Branco from somewhere else in Brasil then you'll already be accustomed to the Brasil bus service. If flying directly into Rio Branco, I would highly recommend adding an extra leg onto the flight as Cruzeiro Do Sul does have a small airport and is only a 1.5 hour flight from Rio Branco or 2.5 hour flight from the Amazon city of Manaus. Cost is about $600 reals ($200 US) from either city and well worth the extra cost.....and I mean that "with all sincerity". There are two small cottages in the national park and they do not provide meals. Bring food and water with you as the locals living in the park do not trade or sell food to outsiders. It takes one whole day by boat into the park where all the waterfalls, mountains, wildlife and true beauty of the untouched Amazon lie. It is generally 12 hours by boat in, one day basking in the waterfalls (hiking in to see them) and leaving the 3rd day returning to Mancio Lima (8 hours). The tour guide may charge more depending on how long you want to stay in the park (3, 4 or 5 days). This trip is for the true adventurist so make sure that you dress for the occasion, bring a flashlight and rubber boots and get plenty of rest the night before you leave for the National Park. This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen on the planet and well worth the hassle of getting there.
There is another way into the park on the Peruvian side. You can fly into Iquitos or Pucallpa and either take a 12 hour boat ride or a one hour flight up to the small town of Contamana. From there it is only a one hour taxi ride up the mountain into the Peruvian side of the park.