Seen from afar, the immense massif of the Serra da Canastra (Sierra of the Basket) looks like a coffer or a basket. That is the origin of its curious name.

It is situated in the south-western region of the state of Minas Gerais and comprehends the Councils of Sao Roque de Minas, Sacramento and Delfinpolis.

The park holds two vital massifs that unfold over an area of 71,525 hectares: the Sierra of the Seven Turns and the Serra da Canastra, with altitudes varying from 900 to 1496 metres high.

The goal of the creation of the Serra da Canastra National Park, the 3rd of April of 1972, was to keep the source of the So Francisco River, also known as the Old Boy.

Numerous water courses are born in this area, tributaries of the Sao Francisco River, which form natural pools attracting many tourists to the higher part of the park.

It is usual to find endangered species, such as the Maned wolf and the Giant anteater, all along the roads with relative ease. The park's fauna represents a major tourist attraction because in the upper zones visitors have the chance of observing their lives it in their natural habitats; be it at first light in the morning or at dawn.

The weather

The month of July is the coldest with average temperatures of 17 C, while during the months of January and February, the warmest ones, heat hits almost 23 C. The levels of rain show a range of between 13000 and 17000 mm a year, with a rainy season in the southern hemisphere's summer and a dry season during winter. Many tourists prefer to visit the area during the period of April to October.