. . but look further beyond.
Are you ready to have your mind blown, courtesy of the clever planet of ours? Say hello to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park We humans are pretty crap at taking care of our world. So, the planet has to do all of the heavy lifting. Here is a prime example. Lençóis Maranhenses sits at the intersection of three biomes—a rare overlap that supercharges biodiversity. Across 350 square miles of dunes, the rainy season brings thousands of crystal blue lagoons into view, many big enough to swim in. What makes this surreal environment possible? And why, even after 2 million years in existence, does it still feel so mysterious? And do we need to plan right now for its rescue? What is the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park?
It is a vast environmental protection area, extending over 155,000 hectares, characterized by: White Sand Dunes: An immense desert of fine sand dunes, reaching up to 40 meters in height, creating a landscape reminiscent of spread-out bedsheets (hence the name “Lençóis”.)
Freshwater Lagoons: The park’s most fascinating phenomenon. After the rainy season (generally from January to May), water accumulates in the valleys between the dunes, forming thousands of crystal-clear freshwater lagoons, with colors ranging from turquoise blue to emerald green. The best time to visit and see the lagoons full is from May to September.
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is located in the northeastern state of Maranhão, Brazil, situated along the coast just east of the Baía de São José. It is an area known for its unique landscape of white sand dunes and seasonal freshwater lagoons. Location: Maranhão, a state in northeastern Brazil. Specific area: The park is on the coast, just east of the Baía de São José. Key features: The landscape is characterized by rolling white sand dunes, seasonal freshwater lagoons that form in the valleys between the dunes, mangroves, and oases.
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