the park is characterized by its diverse flora and fauna and the area's mountains and rocky elevations, with varying altitudes - ranging from 600 meters to the highest point, o pico das agulhas negras, at 2.791 meters, the highest mountain in rio de janeiro.

it is also where the highest road in brazil is located - at 2500 meters. 

the region known as the planalto, or high section, is where visitors will find green landscapes reaching high into the mountains, and the suspended valleys that are home to the mouths of a number of rivers.

the area covers the beginning of 12 important regional water sources, that drain primarily into two basins - that of rio grande and that of the rio paraíba do sul, currently the most important river in rio de janeiro state.