Tumucumaque Mountains National Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tumucumaque Mountains National Park |
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IUCN Category II (National Park)
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 Tumucumaque Mountains National Park
Location in Brazil
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| Location | Amapá, Pará, Brazil |
| Nearest city | Serra do Navio, Pedra Branca do Amapari, Oiapoque |
| Area | 38,874 km2 (15,009 sq mi) |
| Established | August 23, 2002 |
| Governing body | Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation |
The Tumucumaque Mountains National Park (which means "Tumucumaque Mountains National Park" in Portuguese) is a huge protected area in the Amazon Rainforest. You can find it in the Brazilian states of Amapá and Pará. To its north, it shares borders with French Guiana and Suriname.
Contents
Discover the Park's History
When Was Tumucumaque Park Created?
Tumucumaque became a national park on August 23, 2002. The Brazilian government worked with the WWF to make this happen. It's also part of a bigger plan called the Amapá Biodiversity Corridor, which started in 2003. This park helps protect the amazing nature of the Amazon.
Explore the Park's Geography
How Big is Tumucumaque National Park?
Tumucumaque Mountains National Park is truly enormous! It covers more than 38,800 square kilometers (about 15,000 square miles). This makes it the largest tropical forest national park in the world. It's even bigger than the country of Belgium!
If you add the nearby Guiana Amazonian Park in French Guiana, the total protected area grows to about 59,000 square kilometers (22,800 square miles). This huge area helps keep the Amazon rainforest healthy.
What Animals Live in Tumucumaque Park?
This park is a very special place for nature. It's mostly an uninhabited region, meaning very few people live there. This helps protect its unique animals. Many fish and water birds found here don't live anywhere else in the world!
The park is also home to many other amazing creatures, including:
- Jaguars (big wild cats)
- Primates (monkeys and other similar animals)
- Aquatic turtles (turtles that live in water)
- Harpy eagles (one of the largest and most powerful eagles)
The highest point in the Brazilian state of Amapá is also located here, reaching 701 meters (about 2,300 feet) high.
What is the Climate Like in Tumucumaque?
The park has a tropical monsoon climate. This type of weather is common in northern Brazil, where the Amazon rainforest begins. It means the park has a wet season and a dry season.
The average temperature is around 25 °C (77 °F) all year. The park gets a lot of rain, usually between 2,000 and 3,250 millimeters (about 79 to 128 inches) each year.
Plan Your Visit to Tumucumaque Park
Tourism in Tumucumaque Park happens in two main areas: the Amapari Sector and the Oiapoque Sector.
Amapari Sector Adventures
To reach the Amapari Sector, most visitors start from the city of Serra do Navio. You can also get there from a community in Pedra Branca do Amapari, especially in the summer.
The journey involves a 90-kilometer (about 56-mile) boat trip on the Amapari River using aluminum boats. When you arrive at the park's simple base, you can stay in a camping area. This area is set up for Amazon conditions, often with hammocks for sleeping.
Here, you can enjoy activities like:
- Walking on trails
- Swimming in the rivers
- Watching animals and plants
Oiapoque Sector Exploration
In the Oiapoque Sector, you can camp at Cachoeira do Anotaie, a beautiful waterfall on the Anotaie River. This river flows into the Oiapoque River. The waterfall is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Oiapoque. You'll travel there by aluminum boat.
You can also visit Vila Brasil, a community located on the Oiapoque River. It's right across from an indigenous community in French Guiana called Camopi. In Vila Brasil, you'll find small hotels. It's a great place to learn about the local culture, where many residents are traders who serve the people from the neighboring country.
Interesting Facts About Tumucumaque
Did you know that Mozilla Firefox once named a test version of its Firefox 4 browser "Tumucumaque"?
See also
In Spanish: Parque nacional Montañas del Tumucumaque para niños
