Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews of tourists.
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| Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden |
The botanical garden is located in the area of the same name in Rio de Janeiro, in the "South Zone" of the city. It is not very big, but quite pleasant park. Here you can get acquainted with the variety of Brazilian and not only Brazilian flora. The collection of the botanical garden contains about 6,500 species, including those that are under threat of destruction. They are spread over 54 hectares of land, including numerous greenhouses. The total area of the park, located at the foot of Mount Corcovado, is 140 hectares.
In addition, there are several monuments of great historical, artistic and cultural importance on the territory of the garden.
The Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden was founded in 1808 by King John VI of Portugal. It was originally created to acclimatize useful crops such as nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon, which were brought here from the West Indies. The garden was opened to the general public in 1822.
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| Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden |
Mostly tropical and subtropical plants can be seen in the garden, including 900 different types of palm trees. From the entrance deep into the garden leads 750 m Royal Palm Avenue, along which 134 trees are planted. All these palms are the descendants of one and only, "Palm Mater", which has long since died from a lightning strike.
Only part of the park has been landscaped, which makes up about 40% of the total area. Everything else is the so-called Atlantic forest, which rises up the slopes of Corcovado.
In 1992, the park at the botanical garden was declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.
In the "inhabited" half of the park, visitors can admire the collections of bromeliads, orchids, conifers and cacti. In addition, the garden contains the largest botanical library in the country, as well as collections of dried fruits, rare Brazilian plants and many photographs.
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| Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden |
Note the ornate cast iron fountain of the Muses. It was made in Derby (Great Britain) and until 1895 decorated the villa of Enrique Laga in Largo da Lapa, part of the landscape created by the English designer John Tydall.
The park also has an equatorial iron sundial.
The park has several separate gardens, including the Cactus Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Garden of the Senses, and the Fisherman's Lake, which recreate the Amazonian landscape. The Lago Frey Leandro pond, on which the Victoria water lilies grow, also looks great. Other attractions in the park include the old gunpowder factory, as well as numerous sculptures and fountains.
The botanical garden is home to 140 species of birds, many of which seem completely tame and make it easier to see themselves than in their natural environment. You may be lucky enough to see toucans, capuchin monkeys, marmosets and even endemic white-necked hawks.
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| Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden |
A 10-minute walk from the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, in the same area, is the Lage Park. It was once the private property of industrialist Enrique Lage, and his 1920s mansion is still preserved in the park. buildings, over which the Italian architect Mario Vodrell worked. The mansion is not very large, but it is extremely picturesque against the backdrop of the mountain slopes. In the 1960s. Lage Park has become open to the public, and today it is wonderful to walk here along the paths in the subtropical forest. A visual arts school with a poolside café has opened in the mansion.
Practical information
Address: you can get to the garden through several entrances. Rua Jardim Botanico, 1008 and Rua Jardim Botanico, 920 for cyclists, Rua Pacheco Leao, 101 for pedestrians only.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00, Monday from 12:00.
Entrance: for adults 15 BRL, for children under seven years old admission is free.