The flora of the Park is so dense that there is a temperature difference of nearly 10° C between the forest and the surrounding areas and the rest of Rio de Janeiro.  

This is in part fueled by the close to 40 waterfallsfound in the region, and the various ponds and lakes.

part of the waterfalls,  a local landmark is the impressive 100-foot cascatinha taunay waterfall, named after the French painter, while among the ponds, the the lagoa das fadas (Lake of the fairies) wins in popularity.