Serra dos Órgãos National Park
Located about 56 miles (90 kilometers) northeast of Rio de Janeiro, the 27,182-acre (11,000-hectare) Serra dos Órgãos National Park was established in 1939 to protect some Atlantic rainforest, the numerous springs and waterfalls that dot the area, and spectacular granite peaks. The park was the third national park in Brazil.Serra dos Órgãos is an offshoot of the larger Serra do Mar mountain range that extends for about 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) along the southeast coast of Brazil. The park is dominated by rugged and steep granite mountains. Ten peaks are over 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) in height, and the tallest in the park is the 7,424-foot (2,263-meter) Pedra do Sino. Many of the peaks look like steep-sided spires, fingers, or organ pipes. Serra dos Órgãos actually means "Mountain Range of the Organs" because early Portuguese settlers thought the peaks resembled the organ pipes seen...
