The Tijuca Forest National Park was officially created on July 6th, 1961, but its history begun in 1862, when the imperial government mandated the replanting of trees to preserve the water springs. Years of landscaping and reforestation efforts turned the space into a park with recreational areas, fountains, and lakes. One of the largest urban tropical forests in the world, located in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, the park currently covers an area of 39.51 km² and annually welcomes more than 2 million visitors, both locals and tourists, drawn by its biodiversity, natural wonders like the Taunay Waterfalls, the highest in the park, and its viewpoints, which offer breathtaking panoramic views of the city.