accounting for 15% of all existing mangrove in the world, the brazilian extensions are incredibly important and great efforts are made to protect it, hence the creation of spaces like the marapendi reserve.

the park was officially created in 1995 with the aim of recovering, protecting and preserving the flora and fauna around the lake, which were threatened at the time by the continuing expansion of rio de janeiro.

as to be expected in a lakeshore environment, the main ecosystems found here are mangroves and restingas, which is unique to brazil and consists of smaller trees and plants that have adapted themselves to survive in the shallow, sandy soil - today the park contains over 600 acres of these ecological systems.