Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

The Lençóis Maranhenses (sheets of Maranhão ) is an extensive dune area in the north of Brazil. They are located on the coast of the State of Maranhão.

An area of 1550 km ² was declared on 2 June 1981 for the National Park. The fixed and moving dunes extend up to 40 km inland, thus arises despite the relatively high rainfall ( about 1500 mm ) is the only desert in Brazil. Temperatures range between 16 ° C and 36 ° C. Winds are often strong.

Starting point of tours in the National Park is Barreirinhas. Other parts belong to the places Humberto de Campos and Primeira Cruz. In the National Park there are some lagoons. Your water level depends on the rain. After a long dry season many lagoons are completely dried out, but the Lagoa do Peixe destinations or Lagoa Bonita always have water.

With a slow line ship or a boat taxi can drive Barreirinhas to the coast to Caburé and Atins. Caburé is situated on a headland between the river and the sea and consists of only a half dozen pensions. Atin is a small place where you can walk directly into the Lençóis. From the nearby lighthouse one has an impressive view. From Caburé you can ride a jeep through the Pequenos Lençóis by Paulino Neves or Tutóia.

• Images of Lençóis Maranhenses

Film

• Casa De Areia. Feature film, Brazil, 2005. Director Andrucha Waddington, starring Fernanda Montenegro and Fernanda Torres. The film takes place exclusively in the Lençóis.
• Dunes, sand and solitude. The Sahara of Brazil. Documentary, Germany, 2008, 28 min Written and directed by Michael Stocks, Production: ARD television studio in Rio de Janeiro, Phoenix, SWR, First broadcast: December 5, 2008 in Phoenix, Summary of ARD.