Catimbau National Park
Park protecting caatinga with prehistoric cave art.
Catimbau National Park is a national park in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. It protects a semi-arid area of caatinga featuring sandstone caverns and caves. Prehistoric art has been discovered within the park.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Near Buíque in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil
- Nearest city
- Tupanatinga, Pernambuco
- Area
- 62,300 ha / 241 sq mi
- Established
- 2002
- Governing body
- ICMBio
Facts from the source article.
Location
The park sits south of the BR-110 highway and the town of Cruzeiro do Nordesta, bordering the Kapinawá Indigenous Territory to the south. As Brazil’s second-largest archaeological site, the Catimbau Valley features over 2,000 caves and 28 documented areas with prehistoric rock art. At Pedra da Concha, paintings are at least 6,000 years old. IPHAN has recognized the park as a national archaeological heritage site.
Environment
The park is in the caatinga biome, in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco at the transition between agreste and sertão vegetation zones, creating a mosaic of landscapes with high biodiversity. Sandstone walls of the Tacaratu Formation have been shaped by wind and rain into varied forms. The extreme north has well-preserved caatinga and is inaccessible; the eastern portion is better preserved than the west, which contains small family farms and some indigenous communities.
History
It is administered by ICMBio and classed as IUCN category II. Its objectives include preservation of natural ecosystems, scientific research, educational activities, and ecological tourism. The park encourages environmental research by federal higher education institutions. It became part of the Caatinga Ecological Corridor in May 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Catimbau National Park?
Catimbau National Park is located in Near Buíque in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.
When was Catimbau National Park founded?
Catimbau National Park was founded in 2002.
More in National Parks of Brazil
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced