Tijuca

Tijuca is the largest urban forest in the world, located right in the middle of the city.  In fact, The Christ statue is technically within the Tijuca forest. 

Tijuca is considered an Atlantic Rainforest because of the location and type of plants and animals.  Interestingly, it was a hand planted forest.  Part of a reforestation program, the goal was to preserve water supply for the city.   But it has turned out to be a major tourist attraction, a meeting place, and a wonderful location for active endeavors such as hiking and biking.  It is flush with tropical plants and wildlife. 

You can take hikes and jeep rides through the forest. We just walked about 1 km to see the falls (which we thought were pretty amazing) and walked back out.

 

They are hard to see, but we found some monkeys in trees (right about the center of the photo).

This gives you a new standard for a city's green space.

It's hard to see, but hanging from these very tall trees are a unique fruit called jackfruit.  They are the size of a watermelon but grow on a tree!  They are edible for humans, but as I understand it, not all that good.

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This delicate flower really captured our attention.

Even walls of rock were just lush with green.

Our tour guide taking D & M to feel the icy cold water that just runs out of the rocks.