Campos Ferruginosos National Park

Campos Ferruginosos Overview

Campos Ferruginosos National Park, known locally as Parque Nacional dos Campos Ferruginosos, is located in the southeastern part of Pará state, Brazil, near the municipality of Canaã dos Carajás. The park covers an area of approximately 438 square miles, or about 1,135 square kilometers.

It lies within the Amazon biome but stands out due to its distinctive ecological characteristics shaped by ferruginous, or iron-rich, soils. This national park was established to protect rare ecosystems that occur on ironstone outcrops, a habitat type known as “canga,” and to preserve the incredible biodiversity of the region.

The terrain in Campos Ferruginosos National Park is defined by a mosaic of rugged plateaus, open rocky fields, and low-lying rainforests. The most unique aspect of its landscape is the presence of canga vegetation growing on ironstone hills and plateaus. These rocky expanses support specialized plant communities, some of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

The park lies within the Serra dos Carajás, a range of iron-rich hills that form one of the most biologically and geologically unique areas in Brazil. These uplands are interspersed with humid forested valleys, making the terrain both visually dramatic and ecologically rich. The vegetation includes savanna-like grasses, shrubs, bromeliads, and numerous endemic orchids and legumes, along with pockets of dense Amazon rainforest.

Wildlife in the park is incredibly diverse, reflecting its location at the interface between different ecosystems. Mammals commonly seen in the area include jaguars, ocelots, pumas, and South American tapirs. Armadillos and howler monkeys are also found in various zones of the park.

Bird species are particularly abundant due to the range of habitats available, from open canga fields to dense forest. The Harpy Eagle, one of the world’s largest raptors, has been sighted in the park, alongside toucans, parrots, hummingbirds, and the endangered Brazilian merganser. Numerous bat species, amphibians, and reptiles also contribute to the ecological wealth of the area.

Among the most popular features of the park are its canga plateaus, which offer dramatic vistas and access to rare vegetation. The area is also prized for its striking contrast between the dark red ironstone and the lush green forest.

Though the park does not have heavily developed tourism infrastructure, it attracts researchers, conservationists, and ecotourists interested in rare ecosystems and endemic species. Scenic hikes, birdwatching, and guided exploration of the unique ferruginous fields are some of the main ways to experience the park.

Visitors can engage with the park primarily through guided scientific excursions and conservation programs, as the park has limited public access. Educational tours and visits by academic institutions have increased as knowledge of the park’s ecological importance has grown.

Hiking routes, when permitted, provide access to key ecological zones. Partnerships with conservation NGOs and local institutions aim to increase low-impact ecotourism in the future.

The park faces notable conservation challenges, particularly due to its proximity to the Carajás Mining Complex, one of the largest iron ore mining operations in the world. Habitat fragmentation, pollution risks, and encroachment have long threatened the unique ecosystems.

However, the creation of the park itself in 2017 was a major conservation success, driven by efforts to offset environmental impacts of mining. Management by ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) and partnerships with scientific institutions have helped to advance monitoring and protection. Ongoing challenges include enforcing park boundaries, controlling access, and mitigating the indirect effects of mining operations nearby.