Location: Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina Map
Area: 103 sq km
Aparados da Serra National
Park is a protected area in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina states in
Brazil. Aparados da Serra National Park covers an area of
103 sq
km. Aparados da Serra National Park is a protected
reserve in the Serra Geral mountain range that was founded in 1959.
Its magnificent geologic formation is sometimes referred as the
Grand Canyon of South America. Climate in Aparados da Serra
National Park is predominantly temperate. Annual average temperature
here is 16 C with precipitation of 1500- 2250 mm a year.
The
most notable attraction in Aparados da Serra National Park is a
magnificent Itaimbezinho Canyon. In language of native tribes of
Tupi- Guarani "Ita" means "stone" and "Ai'be" means "sharp". The
gorge length is 5.8 km, maximum width of 600 meters and maximum
height of about 720 meters above Partridges stream bellow. There are
three main trails in Aparados da Serra National Park. The trails of
Vertico and El Cotovelo stretch through Itaimbezinho Canyon. The
Trail of the Ox River allows access to the interior of the canyon.
Aparados da Serra National Park is open to the public, but only
1500 visitors are allowed per year. So before you travel here make
appropriate arrangements. The park is open to visitors with
admission up to 2 pm and closes at 6pm. During summer months
Aparados da Serra National Park admissions end at 3 pm and closes at
9pm. Camping inside the protected reserve is forbidden at night.
General data
The park was created by Decree No. 47446 of December
17, 1959 and modified by Decree No. 70296 of March 17, 1972. It covers
an area of 10,250 ha and a perimeter of 63 km. It borders the Serra
Geral National Park. Due to the total identity between the two parks,
the administration is unique for both parks. It is not allowed to camp
or spend the night inside the park, which closes in the late afternoon.
A visit fee is charged to each visitor.
Location and access
It
is located in the northeast region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, on
the border with the extreme south of the state of Santa Catarina, on the
edge of the Serra Geral.
Access is through RS-020 or BR-101,
through Praia Grande/SC via Serra do Faxinal. The closest city to the
park is Cambará do Sul, about 190 km away from the capital Porto Alegre.
Climate
The climate is determined as temperate climate and
presents an annual average of 16 °C; the hottest month is January, and
the coldest are June and July. The average precipitation is 1500-2250
mm.
Main attraction
The Itaimbezinho canyon is the main
attraction. The Itaimbezinho, Ita (stone) and Aí'be (sharp) in
Tupí-Guaraní, is a ravine, canyon or gorge located in the Aparados da
Serra National Park, in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, about
170 kilometers northeast of Porto Alegre, near the border of the State
of Santa Catarina. The canyon has an extension of 5.8 kilometers, with a
maximum width of 2 kilometers and an approximate height of 700 meters,
being crossed by the Perdices stream. In addition to this, there are
other canyons in the area, such as the Fortaleza Canyon, located in the
Serra Geral National Park, in Santa Catarina. The Itaimbezinho canyon is
one of the main attractions of the Sierra Gaúcha and is visited daily by
hundreds of people. Cambará do Sul is the closest city for those seeking
lodging and other tourist services.