Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil

This remarkable wonder is shaped by nature: 57% of the park consists of white sand dunes, which are formed by strong uni-directional winds, and permanent and temporary freshwater lagoons, which are replenished by rainfall and groundwater fluctuations during the rainy season. 

Its winding chains of crescent-shaped shifting sand dunes, known as barchans, can measure up to 75 kilometres in length. Arranged in the same direction, they increase in size as they migrate inland and downwind, on top of dunes from previous generations.

In fact, the dunes can measure up to twenty metres in height and can move from four to twenty-five metres a year. 
 
The temporary lakes which form between them in the rainy season, vanish again in the dry season, creating an ever-changing landscape.

What’s more, the migration of the dunes means that, when the rains return, the lagoons re-emerge in new locations and with altered shapes. At their fullest, they can reach a depth of five metres.

The layers of brown and green algae and cyanobacteria (a type of microorganism that is capable of photosynthesis) that coat the lakebeds create variations in the lagoons’ colour, contributing to the continued changes in the park’s spectacular landscape.

The property is located in a transition zone between three Brazilian biomes: Cerrado, Caatinga and the Amazon Rainforest. The Restinga vegetation, which is specific to the region, along with mangroves, lagoons, rivers, marine areas and other ecosystems support species diversity.

Five municipalities provide access to the park: Barreirinhas and Santo Amaro, which are located 257 km and 240 km from the state’s capital, São Luís, and Humberto de Campos, Primeira Cruz, and Paulino Neves.

A fishing village amid the dunes, Atins is located between the sea and the Preguiças River. Here, the spectacular sight of a scarlet ibis in flight creates a stunning contrast, especially at sunset.

The village of Mandacaru also relies on fishing, but on subsistence farming too. It is home to the Preguiças Lighthouse, built in 1909, which offers a privileged view of the mangroves, the mouth of the river, the sea, Atins and the National Park.

The Azul, Bonita, and Gaivota Lagoons are among the most famous and visited lagoons in the park, the breathtaking landscape that surrounds them transforming each year with the “dance” of the winds.

Visitors to the park may be surprised to find fish in the lagoons. The small but feisty jacunda lays its eggs in the sand during the dry season, from July to December. When the rains return, the eggs hatch, beginning a new life cycle.

Finally, for uninterrupted views of the Milky Way, the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, with some of the clearest and most star-filled skies in Brazil, is an excellent location for star-gazing.