rio de janeiros sister city, niterói, which sits across guanabara bay, is home to some remarkable natural attractions and ladmarks, such as beaches, mountains and parks. the comparitively smaller population, relative distance to the busiest areas of rio and a well coordinated conservation and preservation efforts by authorities and community groups, have allowed the landscape to maintain its natural splendor and richness.
ilha do pai, ilha da măe and ilha da filha (father island, mother island and daughter island) extend in a southwesterly line from itaipú beach and morro das andorinhas in the city of niterói. the island group is commonly referred to as ilhas de niterói (niterói islands).
