Pireneus State Park was created with the purpose of preserving the Pireneus Mountain Range area for its ecological and touristic importance. In 1985, this area, which is part of three counties in Brazil, Pirenópolis, Cocalzinho and Corumbá de Goiás, was recognized as one of the last fragments of undisturbed Cerrado, rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. The park project aims to create opportunities for controlled public usage, education and scientific research.

The three Pireneus peaks located in the nucleus of the park form a geologic, historic and geographic landmark of great importance in the central region of Brazil. Pireneus is the second highest peak in the State of Goiás (1383 m, approximately 4530 ft), and it has been explored and documented by many historians, scientists and naturalists.

Pireneus, located 100 km from Brasilia, is a magnificent ancient rock formation (about two billion years old) covered by the exotic vegetation of Cerrado. Large, medium and small blocks of quartz (rock crystal) and sandstone were sculptured by time, creating spectacular forms. On top of these rock formations exist many colorful lichens, moss, cacti, bromeliads and hundreds of species of orchids.

Around the rocks is found beautiful medium-size vegetation composed of canelas-d’ema, mimosas, ever-alive, and hundreds of herbs and flowers, some with a diversity of medicinal properties that have been used by the local population for many generations.

These special rock formations and vegetation constitute the beautiful Rupestral Cerrado as it is known. This rare and fragile vegetation only occurs on top of rocky mountains. Uncontrolled exploration of this black rock or cavern rock to use in landscape projects is destroying the few spots of Rupestral Cerrado that still can be found in Brazil.

From the top of this truly Japanese garden one has a panoramic view of the Central Plateau of Brazil. The large topographic drop from the three peaks of Pireneus to the historic town of Pirenopolis is the reason for the magnificent views and the dozens of waterfalls one can visit in the area.

Serra dos Pireneus is also a water divisor between the Tocantins and Paraná basins. From its higher altitudes springs on one side form the Corumbá Creek, a tributary of the Paranaíba (Paraná Basin), and on the other side the Rio das Almas that later on becomes the Tocantins River, a tributary of the Amazon.

Around the park there are several private properties open for Eco-tourism, offering many options of trails for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. Many of these trails will take you to one of the dozen wonderful waterfalls of the area.

Thanks to its dramatic topography, the rocky and sandy soils of the Serra dos Pireneus have escaped the monoculture agriculture and cattle ranging that has been destroying most of the Cerrado areas. These rocky mounts and the ciliar forests form an important corridor for the fauna. The presence of rare and endangered species such as deer, Cerrado otter, anteaters, jaguars, jaguarundi ( a wild cat), guará-wolf, Chilean eagle, and seriemas confirms the conservancy status of Serra dos Pireneus. However, these rare plantsand animals are at risk beacuse of a lack of supervision of the park by the government.

Text by Brazilian Biologist and Environmentalist Rogerio Dias, from Pirenópolis. Translated and edited by Jeanne Marie White.

Photos by Phil White, Jeanne Marie White, and Marcelo Safadi.