located between the ipanema and the tijuca massif, the rodrigo freitas lagoon is a placid body of water and one of the great touristic hotspots of rio de janeiro.

it contains just two islands, and although they are not large they are occupied by important institutions.

to the south there's the caiçaras island, while to the north is the piraquê island.

the current shape of the lagoon is very different from what it was when the portuguese first arrived.