Tijuca National Forest

Wikipedia gives the park an area of about 3,958 hectares, and it was established in 1961. The forest is largely a restoration story. Trees in the area were cleared in the 1700s for fuel, coffee and livestock, leading to water shortages and flash floods. In 1817 King Dom João VI decreed protection for trees around the springs of the Carioca River, and in 1861 Emperor Pedro II placed the area under federal control.

Replanting was carried out by forest manager Major Manuel Gomes Archer with six enslaved workers. Between 1861 and 1887 more than 100,000 trees were planted, prioritising native hardwoods. The article notes that scientists estimate the dense vegetation lowers ambient temperatures in surrounding areas by up to 9 degrees Celsius.

The park lies in the Tijuca Massif, whose notable peaks include Pedra da Gávea, Corcovado and Pico da Tijuca. About 30 waterfalls are found in the forest. Landmarks include Christ the Redeemer, the Cascatinha waterfall, the Mayrink Chapel with murals by Cândido Portinari, the pagoda-style gazebo at Vista Chinesa, and Mesa do Imperador, a giant granite table.

Hiking destinations include Pico da Tijuca, Bico do Papagaio, the Excelsior lookout and the Bat's Cave.

More than 230 animal and bird species live in the park, including capuchin monkeys, coatis, agoutis, marmosets, hummingbirds and thrushes. The critically endangered tree Annona ferruginea is described as endemic to the park. Human-set fires and invasive flammable grasses are noted as ongoing threats.

The park was included in the Carioca Mosaic, established in 2011, and in 2012 UNESCO designated the surrounding landscapes of Rio de Janeiro as a World Heritage Site. Wikipedia notes the claim that it is the world's largest urban forest, but says Johannesburg disputes this, so the claim is best treated as contested.

The forest divides Rio's North and South Zones as well as separating the West Zone, so it shapes the city's geography as well as its climate. Visitors who travel through it often encounter the Cascatinha waterfall and the Mayrink Chapel before reaching the higher viewpoints. Wikipedia reports that the park received more than 3.3 million visitors in 2016, which reflects how central the forest is to everyday life in Rio as well as to tourism.

The forest separates Rio's West Zone from the rest of the city and offers cooler, shaded scenery close to the beaches. A private guided visit with a driver and guide helps cover the park's scattered viewpoints and waterfalls, and explains the story of the replanted forest.