one of the most important natural landmark of rio de janeiro is the national park of tijuca - part of it is the foresta da tijuca, a green space made up by the smaller floresta de santa ines and floresta do andaraí. it is one of the larges urban forests world wide and is the result of a massive replanting effort in the 19th century, following extensive deforestation for the purpose of sugarcane farming.

the tijuca forest is set across a number of valleys, spanning from the vale dos perdidos (valley of the lost) in the north to the valley of são miguel home to a beautiful pond.