Are there Mountains in Brazil?

A bucket list has probably already been written by everyone. Do you still remember what was written in your last one? Learning a new language, doing a parachute jump, climbing up a high mountain or taking a trip to Brazil? The bucket list might have looked like this or something similar. How does it sound to combine a vacation in Brazil with climbing mountains? Because Brazil definitely has more to offer than sandy beaches, rainforest and samba. Very few people think of Brazil as mountains and high peaks. And yet, mountain climbers can also get their money's worth in Brazil, because the highest peak in Brazil is almost 1.86 miles (3,000 meters) high.

Brazil's two highest mountains are located in the north, more precisely in the state of Amazonas on the border between Brazil and Venezuela. Both mountains are located in the Serra do Imeri (plateau of Guyana) and are only 2,253 feet (687 meters) apart. With its 9,819 foot (2,993 meters) height, the Pico da Neblina is the highest peak in Brazil. It was only declared the highest mountain in Brazil in 2016 after a review by the IBGE (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística). It owes its name to the fact that its summit is covered by thick fog most of the year. With a height of 9,750 feet (2,972 meters), Pico 31 de Março is the second-highest mountain in Brazil. It is located in the same massif as Pico da Neblina and can be considered a secondary peak. The two peaks are connected by a short ridge. The first ascent of Pico da Neblina and Pico 31 de Março was made in 1965 by an expedition of the Brazilian army. Access to this area is restricted and depends on the permission of ICMBio (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade).

With an altitude of 9,488 feet (2,892 meters), Pico da Bandeira (English "Peak of the Flag") is the third highest point in Brazil and the highest in the entire southeast region. It is embedded in the Serra do Caparaó, on the border between the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. The Pico da Bandeira bears this name because in 1859 Emperor Pedro II decided that a flag should be placed there, as the place was considered the highest in Brazil at that time.

Especially in the states in the southeast of Brazil, many high mountains can be found. For example, Pico do Calçado, which at 9,347 feet (2,849 meters) is the fourth highest mountain in Brazil. It is one of the most beautiful mountains of the Serra do Caparaó mountain range in the National Park Parque of Caparaó and is located on the border between the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. Another mountain, which is also in the state of Minas Gerais, is the 9,179 feet (2,798 meter) high Pedra da Mina. The fifth highest mountain in Brazil is located in the Serra Fina, which is embedded in the Serra da Mantiqueira, between the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. The Pedra da Mina is also the highest peak of the state of São Paulo. The first documented ascent of Pedra da Mina was in 1955 by a group of eight people, formed on the initiative of four German immigrants: Henning Bobrik, Gunther Engels, Felix Bernhard Hacker and Theodor Reimar Hacker.

The sixth highest peak in Brazil is located in the Serra de Itatiaia between the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro and is within the Itatiaia National Park. With a height of 9,156 feet (2,791 meters), Pico das Agulhas Negras is also the highest mountain in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Although it is located in a tropical zone, it usually records negative temperatures in winter and occasional snow in exceptionally humid years. Only 72 feet (22 meters) smaller is the Pico do Cristal, which at 9,084 feet (2,769 meters) is the seventh highest peak in Brazil. It is located within the Caparaó National Park in the state of Minas Gerais and is also the highest mountain that is entirely within the territory of Minas Gerais.

As mentioned, many of the highest peaks in Brazil are located in the southeast of the country. Except for Pico da Neblina and Pico 31 de Março, there is only one other exception in the list of the 10 highest mountains in Brazil: Mount Roraima. With a height of 8,986 feet (2,739.30 meters), it is the eighth highest point in Brazil. It is located in the Serra de Pacaraíma in the state of Roraima on the border between Brazil, Venezuela and Guyana. The mountain Roraima remains in memory mainly because of its flattened summit with an extension of about 56 miles (90 kilometers). The Indians from Venezuela also call it the "Mother of Water", as countless waterfalls rise from its rock faces.

Back in the southeast, we continue with the ninth highest mountain of Brazil. At 8,792 feet (2,680 meters), the Morro do Couto is located in the state of Rio de Janeiro in the Serra das Prateleiras and is integrated into the Itatiaia National Park. The Morro do Couto is the first mountain you can reach from the entrance of the park. It can be conquered in two hours of easy hiking. With an altitude of 8,759 feet (2,670 meters), the Pedra do Sino de Itatiaia (English "bell stone of Itatiaia") is the tenth highest mountain in Brazil. It is located in the Serra da Mantiqueira in the state of Minas Gerais. The name "de Itatiaia" serves to distinguish it from the Pedra do Sino da Serra dos Órgãos in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The Itatiaia bell stone is considered the least known mountain in one of the most visited national parks in Brazil. The alleged reason for its lack of popularity is that it is located in the most remote area on the Minas Gerais side of the park.

As you can see, summiteers can also get their money's worth during a Brazil trip. But the world's most famous peaks in Brazil are much smaller. The best examples are the 2,329 feet (710 meters) high Corcovado with the 98 feet (30 meters) high Statue of Christ and the 1,296 feet (395 meters) high Sugar Loaf Mountain, which is mainly known for its conical shape.

Sources: www.blogdaaventura.com, www.extremos.com.br, www.wikipedia.org, www.worldatlas.com