Araguaia

Araguaia National Park protects 562,312 hectares of the world's largest river island, Ilha do Bananal, and surrounding floodplain ecosystems where the Cerrado and Amazon biomes meet in central Brazil's Tocantins state. The park encompasses diverse habitats including seasonally flooded forests, palm swamps, grasslands, and transitional ecosystems that support exceptional biodiversity and serve as critical habitat for endangered species like the giant river otter and marsh deer. Established in 1959, Araguaia represents one of Brazil's oldest national parks and protects vital spawning grounds for numerous fish species that support regional fisheries. The seasonal flooding cycle of the Araguaia River creates dynamic ecosystems that support some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in central Brazil.