Exploring Rio: A Series

A long overdue post, but here it is at last. Back in April I had my first opportunity to go exploring in the world's second largest urban forest, Floresta da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro (the world's largest is also located in Rio de Janeiro, Floresta da Pedra Branca). Since then, I have taken the opportunity to hike in many diverse areas of the forest and experience its beauty. Over the next few days/weeks I will begin posting information about the various hikes and what photos I have (cell phone camera, nothing flickr-worthy). But first, here's a little more about Floresta da Tijuca.

First off, Tijuca Forest is only about 150 years old. No, it's not a remnant of old-growth forest. It is, however, an environmental lesson and a symbol of hope for the future. By the 1850s, when Rio de Janeiro supported a burgeoning population of 50,000, an environmental crisis began to occur. The city's water supply was dwindling. The main source of city water at that time was none other than the rivers and mountain streams running down from the Floresta da Tijuca... or more accurately, the coffee plantation of Tijuca. That's because the entire original rain forest had been cut down to plant coffee! And with it, though they didn't know it at the time, the water supply sheltered by the trees had been "cut" as well.

By 1861, the situation was desperate, so the then-Emperor of Brazil ordered the entire area to be replanted as forest using the original native species, putting the work in the hands of Major Gomes Archer. Since that time, this secondary-growth forest has been protected and developed until today it resembles very much the original rain forest, though the trees won't regain their original canopy height for probably another couple of centuries. It is a fascinating preserve of wildlife, lush greenery, and yes, abundant water, all located in the center of an urban chaos. Tijuca Forest is often referred to as "the lungs of Rio."


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