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Distributed amongst 17 different Brazilian states, the Atlantic
Forest is the habitat of various species of flora and live organisms,
defined by their proximity to the coast, landscape, types of soil
and the amount of fluvial water. These characteristics are responsible
for the evolution of such a rich and complex biotic natural forest.
 The
Atlantic Forest, or Mata Atlântica, ranks among the top most fascinating
places of the world. It is one of two major forest blocks within
Brazil. This forest retains extremely high levels of diversity,
as well as many endemic plants and animals. For example, endangered
primates such as the golden lion tamarin and the muriqui, which
are indigenous to the Atlantic Forest.
This region, broadly defined, is still the third largest vegetation
formation within Brazil (after Amazônia and the Cerrado), occupying
13 percent of the nation's territory. In the Atlantic Forest Lowlands,
there are a total of 55 restricted-range bird species, and 31 of
these are considered endangered. Other unique species include the
thin-spined porcupine, the maned sloth, and many unusual birds including
the red-billed curassow.
There exists 1.361 species of Brazilian fauna, composed by 261 mammals,
620 birds, 200 reptiles and 280 amphibious, being that 567 species
exist exclusively in this system. It still hosts around 20 thousand
plant species in which 8 thousand only grow in the Mata Atlântica.
It is interesting to mention that recently, in the south of Bahia,
the greatest botanical diversity in the world of wood type plants
was identified, this means 454 species were recorded in only one
hectare.
Experience the tropical and colorful Mata Atlântica with Natour.
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