scattered across rio de janeiro's zona oeste are a great number of soaring peaks, from towering mountains, to modest hills - they are all greatly diverse, and offer visitors a whole variety of activities to undertake on their variable slopes.

yet, only one can have the coveted title, as the highest peak in the city, which is where pico da pedra branca steps in - at a staggering 1,025 meters high, eclipsing all competitors around it.

the pico da pedra branca is located in the parque estadual da pedra branca, as the climax of the park, and it is surrounded by the rich array of ecosystems that live in the dense mata atlântica (atlantic forest).