yet, barra it is also known for its beautiful natural areas, large and luxurious beaches, as this districtis almostunmatched among carioca neighborhoods when it comes to natural wonders.

aside from its numerous lakes - marapendi, jacarepaguá, and tijuca being the mains ones- it has tijuca national park to one side and the maciço da pedra branca state park to the other. the superb beaches here are considered to be among the best in rio for their size, excellent waves, and untamed aesthetic.