Lençois Maranhenses National Park
06-06-2020
The park, located on the semi-arid coast of northern Brazilian state Maranhão, 370 km from the capital, São Luís, preserves a unique geological phenomenon formed thousands of years ago by the extraordinary combination of desert sand dunes and abundant natural lagoons resulting from the accumulation of rainwater and bathed by numerous rivers that meet the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The winds blow strongly reaching 70 km / h, carrying dunes up to 40 meters high, reforming the landscape and creating curious lagoon complexes. Besides the sunset of rare beauty in the middle of the dunes, the major attractions are rides in open vehicles on the sand or motorboat on the waters of rivers, lagoons and mangroves, where tourists can also bath ...
In addition to the dune field that occupies two thirds of the conservation unit, the park inserted in the Cerrado biome is also influenced by the Caatinga and the Amazon biomes, housing several fragile ecosystems.
The climate is tropical with an average temperature of 28 ° C with rainy and drought seasons.
The flora of the Lençóis has species of great utility, including those with medicinal properties, textile plants, tanifers, cerifers and oil producers, as well as useful woods.
The mangrove fauna is made up of jacaretinga (Caiman crocodilus), bush deer and paca. A total of 112 ornithological species were recorded in the park region, belonging to 16 orders and 43 families with relevant importance of migratory species from North America. The occurrence of four species considered endangered by the Brazilian government was recorded, one of birds: the guará (Eudocinus ruber) and three of mammals: the otter (Lontra longicaudis), the wild cat (Leopardus tigrinus) and the manatee (Trichechus manatus).
(Photo: George Steinmetz / National Geographic)