|
Sighted far away, when
the traveler is still at the road leading to Ouro
Preto, Itacolomi stirs his curiosity. It stands
high over 1700 meters (5,500 feet), an altitude
which is perfect for those who appreciate the
practice of uphill walking and the feeling of
Nature.
|
Located in the southeast area of Minas
Gerais, 110 kilometers (69 miles) from the state capital
Belo Horizonte, the Itacolomi State Park was designed in
June 1967. It comprises 7548 hectares (18 million acres)
of beautiful and mysterious landscapes, situated in both
Ouro Preto and Mariana territories. Valleys and mountains
surround the historic and cultural riches contained inside
the park.
Nature is abundant
everywhere. Covered with a very diversified
vegetation, the park shelters rudimentary
fields and candeia wood forests and
preserves great remaining portions of the
atlantic tropical forests. Quaresmeiras are
the predominant trees, growing mainly along
waterflows such as the córrego dos Prazeres
and Belchior creeks. In the upper sections
of the mountains a rocky soil can be found,
where gramíneas and ciperáceas are the
predominant species, as well as
canelas-de-ema. It is also very usual
to find bromélias and exotic orquids,
that attract attention from the visitors.
|
|
 |
The Itacolomi Park concentrates a
diversified fauna. There are more than 400
species, according to Instituto Estadual de
Florestas (IEF), the State Forest Authority
that manages the reserve. There is a great
variety of rare animals, such as the beija-flor
de gravata bird, the lontra otter and the
gato-mourisco cat. Nevertheless, the region has
been suffering with the threat of extinction of
some species. Among them the lobo-guará wolf,
the onça parda feline, the macaco sauá monkey,
the povó bird and the small-sized tamandua.
During the drought season, forest fires are a
constant concern. For all these reasons, a
careful behavior is demanded of park visitors.
 |
|
Besides its natural
beauties, the Itacolomi Park also preserves
important historical assets. As a symbol of
the settling of the Minas Gerais territory,
the Casa Bandeirista (a construction typical
of the bandeirantes explorers´ old days)
located at the São José do Manso farm is
currently a museum. In old times, the farm
was a great producer of black tea in the
18th century. It shows the machinery and
other gadgets used in tea processing. The
Chácara do Cintra estate also calls the
attention. Depicting admirable ruins, the
main house seat of the property, also
from the 18th century, attracts many
visitors.
|
But the biggest attraction of the park is
no doubt getting to the peak. It is a stretch of 8 kilometers
(5 miles), equivalent to a four-hour mild walking journey. The
ongoing trip, that alternates both leveled and uphill terrain,
makes the walker uneasy, eager to reach the top in no time. The
return stroll is more relaxing, and may take less than two hours.
All in all, it is worth while the effort. In addition to the
pleasure of being in close contact with Nature, the Itacolomi
Peak discloses one of the most beautiful sights of Ouro Preto,
Mariana and of the mountains that used to hide and still hide
the gold mines. It seems to pose the question: whosoever will
now be the new bandeirantes explorers?
Note: Going up to the peak requires a permission from park officials.
The park is opened to the public. Idas Brasil magazine and the Convention & Visitors
Bureau recommend the visitors to respect park guidelines and hire an accredited local
guide. Telephones and homepage of Instituto Estadual de Florestas (State Forest Authority)
are in section "Service & Information".
|
