Lençóis Maranhenses National Park (
Parque Nacional dos Lençóis Maranhenses) is a
national park located in
Maranhão state, in northeastern Brazil, just east of the
Baía de São José. Protected since June 1981, the 383,000-acre (155,000 ha) park includes 70 km (43 mi) of coastline, and an interior of rolling sand dunes. During the rainy season, the valleys among the dunes fill with freshwater lagoons, prevented from draining due to the impermeable rock beneath. The park is home to a range of species, including four
listed as endangered, and has become a popular destination for
ecotourists.
Photograph: Julius Dadalti