Ilha do Mel

This hourglass-shaped island at the mouth of the Baía de Paranaguá is the most pristine and picturesque beach resort in all of southern Brazil, offering mostly wild beaches, good surfing waves and scenic coastal walks. The island’s tranquility and lack of development are thanks in part to its isolation. Accessible only by boat, Ilha do Mel is traversed by sandy paths and has not a single car, so traffic jams throughout the island’s scenic sandy lanes consist of surfboard-toting Brazilians on bicycles and bedazzled foreigners in their new Havaianas.

The fatter, northern half of the island is an ecological preserve, closed to inland exploration. The hillier southern portion is the locale of three small villages: Nova Brasília and Praia do Farol near the isthmus; and Encantadas at the far southern tip. They can be rowdy during the summer holidays, when young crowds descend on the island. But for the most part, Ilha do Mel, or ‘honey island,’ is the territory of surfers, campers, beachcombers and other escapists in search of simplicity and serenity.

Photo Flickr by ferias de mochila

Photo Flickr by jessica pirovani

Photo Flickr by Michel Adamo

Photo Flickr by Sergio Gonçalves

Source: lonelyplanet 

Dutch colonies in southern Brazil

Carambeí, the first Dutch settlement in the area of Campos Gerais was founded in 1912 and today, together with Castrolanda (one of the cities of Castro, Paraná), is the biggest producer of milk in Brazil. The cooperatives are also very important for the economy in this area of Paraná.

The first Dutch arrived with their families to settle in the former farm Carambehy to sell milk and food to the railroad workers.

Now, the local population strives to keep the Dutch traditions alive. An example of this is the great “Parque Histórico de Carambeí”, an open air museum to preserve the heritage of these pioneers. Spread over 100 thousands sqm, you can see how the houses, the school, kitchen, dairy production, church and even the cemetery used to be! The park is very interesting and the landscape is very beautiful. Bring your camera for great pictures here!

Photo by wikimedia

Castrolanda is another Dutch settlement, founded between 1951 and 1954. Here you will have the chance to visit the biggest windmill outside Holland – part of the Immigration Memorial.

With the end of the World War II, Europe was devastated and many families from Holland left their country in 1951 to come to Paraná with all their equipment and first cows and bulls. They settled down along the Iapó river and founded Castrolanda in an area of 5000 hectares. Later they created the cooperative of same name. The development of this area is thanks to the great work of these pioneers, who adapted to Brazil very fast and are very important to the country.

Its economy is based on agricultural production and dairy farming which is one of the most important in this region that is considered the largest dairy in Brazil due to their genetic quality. It has a considerable production of grain, mostly soy and beans. Also having one of the largest agricultural cooperatives in Brazil, which bears the name of the colony. (wikipedia)

You will learn more about the settlement in the Dutch Immigration Memorial, built in 2001 to celebrate Castrolanda's 50th anniversary. The Immigrant Museum was also opened in 1991 and there you will see objects brought from Europe and used by the pioneers.

Witmarsum

Located only 60 km from Curitiba and 62 km from Ponta Grossa, the Witmarsum colony was founded in 1951 by Mennonite immigrants and is located in Palmeira municipality. With much effort and dedication, the settlement is today known for its fine cheese production and other dairy products. It is a quiet rural settlement where the menonites and German traditions are kept alive.

Tourists are very welcome here and you will have the chance to taste the local dishes and see the manicured gardens and plantations. The local museum is located in the former farm house that hosted the first settlers.

Source: specialparana  Photos by Google and specialparana

Iguazu Falls

The magnificent spectacle of these 275 individual drops has awed tourists, locals and indigenous inhabitants for centuries. They originate from the Iguazu River and are located on the border of Brazil (in the state of Paraná) and Argentina.

In fact, the Iguazu Falls are what divides the river of the same name into its upper and lower portions, a fact that has given rise to several myths and legends as to their origin. This river forms the boundary between Brazil and Argentina, making it a significant part of the political and geographical structure of the continent of South America.

Today, the Iguazu Falls are owned by the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Iguazú National Park in Argentina and the Iguaçu National Park in Brazil.

On the Brazilian side, the best-known falls include:

• Benjamin Constant

• Deodoro

• Floriano

The Iguazu Falls stretch in width for 2.7 kilometers (or 1.7 miles). Their height varies between 60 metres (200 feet) and 82 meters (or 269 feet). This makes the Iguazu Falls taller than Niagara Falls and twice as wide.

A large proportion of the water is thrust down Devil’s Throat, a long chasm that is 82 meters high, 150 metres wide and 700 metres long. This chasm has a distinguishing U-shape. Interestingly, there are several islands within the river and the falls.

In terms of accessibility, tourists need to confirm the possible VISA requirements when entering from either the Brazil or the Argentina side, as the falls comprise both countries. Visitors can reach the falls from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil and Puerto Iguazú in the Argentina, or from Ciudad del Este in Paraguay.

Special walkways have been built around the Iguazu Falls to allow visitors to get close up to this wonder of their natural beauty and power. A long pathway along the canyon (on the Brazilian side of the falls) is complemented by helicopter flips over the water to allow a completely uninterrupted, unlimited experience of the splendor of Iguazu. Buses of visitors arrive frequently, and travelers are encouraged to arrange such tours well in advance to secure their trip.

The Iguazu Falls are so exquisite that they have been used as the backdrop for many films, including Happy Together (1997), Mr. Magoo (1997), Miami Vice (2006) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).

Visitors to Brazil are advised to see the Iguazu Falls during spring or autumn, as summer is very hot and humid, while the water level drops considerably in the winter.

Source: brazilorg

All Images by Google.

Brazil: Paraná State

State of Parana flag

Paraná is a state in southern Brazil that’s home to Iguaçu Falls, with hundreds of cascades straddling the border with Argentina. Surrounding the falls is Iguaçu National Park, a subtropical rainforest with diverse wildlife, while north lies the massive Itaipu Dam. Hundreds of kilometers east, close to the Atlantic beaches of Guaratuba and the large port of Paranaguá, is the leafy state capital, Curitiba.

Significantly, Paraná is home to the araucaria forest, which is one of the world’s most valuable subtropical forests. In addition, it is the home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the National Park of Iguaçu. Its capital city Curitiba, renowned for its excellent quality of life and its undeniable vibe. The entire state has a population of well over 10 million people.

Iguaçu Falls National Park

In terms of its geography, Paraná is divided into 1) a coastal zone, which is rather narrow and boasts the exquisite Serra do Mar forests and 2) a high plateau that measures between 2 500 and 3 000 feet above sea level.

Parana's population is primarily of Eastern European origin, but Germans, Portuguese, and Japanese also settled in the state. A variation of German known as Paraná-Wolga-Deutsch originated in the area.

The Araucaria moist forests are peppered around the central and southern parts of Paraná and are acclaimed for being the habitat of a startling array of plants and animals.

Araucaria forest

There are several very large rivers throughout the state, the most noteworthy of which are the Paranapanema and the Iguaçu rivers. The Iguaçu Falls are breath-taking in their magnitude and beauty, bearing testimony to nature’s immense power. These falls are 215 feet or 66 metres high and consist of approximately 20 individual waterfalls.

Some of the most significant cities in the state are Curitiba, Londrina, Maringá, Foz do Iguaçu and Ponta Grossa.

Tourists visiting Paraná, Brazil, are urged to visit some (or all) of the following popular attractions:

• Fonte da Carioca – a fountain built in 1867
• The glorious Iguaçu Falls
• The impressive Iguaçu National Park
• The Itaipu Hydro-Electric Station
• Marco das Três Fronteiras (the Three Borders Landmark)
• Pesca do Dourado

Botanical Garden of Curitiba

Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls. Photo: wikipedia

Fonte da Carioca – a fountain built in 1867

The Itaipu Hydro-Electric Station

The Three Borders Landmark

Credit: brazilorg