Lençois Maranhenses - The National Park
located in Maranhão state, in northeastern Brazil, is one of the most marvelous and unique places in the world. An area encompassing about 1000 square kilometers of white silky sands intercepted at regular intervals by endless cool oases of turquoise lakes. At first glance Lençóis Maranhenses looks like an archetypal desert. In fact it isn't actually a desert just like the Tottori Sand Dunes aren’t. Lying just outside the Amazon basin, the region is subject to a regular rain season during the beginning of the year. The rain water accumulates in the valleys in between sand dunes and forms clear blue and green lagoons that reach their fullest between July and September. The area is also surprisingly home to a variety of fish which, despite the almost complete disappearance of the lagoons during the dry season, have their eggs brought from the sea by birds. Mangroves, deserted beaches, buritis - a graceful kind of palm tree - and the Preguiças River help compose the park's diversity. Lençóis Maranhenses has been formed over thousands of years, as the sand from riverbeds is deposited at the mouth of the rivers and brought back to the continent by winds and sea currents. The dunes advance as far as 31 miles into the continent and stretch along 27 miles of coastline, mostly deserted beaches. Some of the lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are huge. Lagoa Bonita and Lagoa Azul are near the town of Barreirinhas. Lagoa Tropical, also worth a visit, is closer to the village of Atins. Lagoa da Gaivota (Seagull Lagoon), one of the park's largest and most beautiful, is near Santo Amaro do Maranhão, a village located about 60 miles from Barreirinhas. Source: http://www.amusingplanet.com
located in Maranhão state, in northeastern Brazil, is one of the most marvelous and unique places in the world. An area encompassing about 1000 square kilometers of white silky sands intercepted at regular intervals by endless cool oases of turquoise lakes. At first glance Lençóis Maranhenses looks like an archetypal desert. In fact it isn't actually a desert just like the Tottori Sand Dunes aren’t. Lying just outside the Amazon basin, the region is subject to a regular rain season during the beginning of the year. The rain water accumulates in the valleys in between sand dunes and forms clear blue and green lagoons that reach their fullest between July and September. The area is also surprisingly home to a variety of fish which, despite the almost complete disappearance of the lagoons during the dry season, have their eggs brought from the sea by birds. Mangroves, deserted beaches, buritis - a graceful kind of palm tree - and the Preguiças River help compose the park's diversity. Lençóis Maranhenses has been formed over thousands of years, as the sand from riverbeds is deposited at the mouth of the rivers and brought back to the continent by winds and sea currents. The dunes advance as far as 31 miles into the continent and stretch along 27 miles of coastline, mostly deserted beaches. Some of the lagoons at Lençóis Maranhenses National Park are huge. Lagoa Bonita and Lagoa Azul are near the town of Barreirinhas. Lagoa Tropical, also worth a visit, is closer to the village of Atins. Lagoa da Gaivota (Seagull Lagoon), one of the park's largest and most beautiful, is near Santo Amaro do Maranhão, a village located about 60 miles from Barreirinhas. Source: http://www.amusingplanet.com
Lençois Maranhenses – Rio Preguiça
Along the Rio there are some fascinating places: the first stop is in the Vassouras region to visit the Pequenos Lençóis Maranhenses and see local fauna in the monkey tent known as “tenda dos macacos”; second stop is in the village called Mandacarú, a small fishing village to climb up the light house called “Farol Preguiças” navy lighthouse to enjoy an enchanting site of the Lencois Maranhenses, Rio Preguiça flowing into the ocean and the immense native forest; finally arriving at Caburé beach. Source: www.brasilplanet.com.br
Along the Rio there are some fascinating places: the first stop is in the Vassouras region to visit the Pequenos Lençóis Maranhenses and see local fauna in the monkey tent known as “tenda dos macacos”; second stop is in the village called Mandacarú, a small fishing village to climb up the light house called “Farol Preguiças” navy lighthouse to enjoy an enchanting site of the Lencois Maranhenses, Rio Preguiça flowing into the ocean and the immense native forest; finally arriving at Caburé beach. Source: www.brasilplanet.com.br