The park lies on the watershed between the São Francisco and Paraná rivers.
It preserves the headwaters of the São Francisco River, which flows east from the park.
In the south it feeds the Rio Grande (Paraná River tributary) and in the north the Araguari River, which rises in the park and is a tributary of the Paranaíba River.
The Rio Grande and Paranaíba flow west and join to form the Paraná.
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Altitude ranges from 750 to 1,490 metres (2,460 to 4,890 ft).[3]
A road cuts through the highest part of the park from east to west for more than 60 kilometres (37 mi).[4]
The park includes areas of scenic beauty such as cliffs with dramatic waterfalls, including the Casca d'Anta, the first waterfall of the São Francisco River, with a drop of 186 metres (610 ft).
Other attractions are the Garagem de Pedras and the Curral de Pedras.
Lookout points can be accessed by car via dirt roads in good weather.
The highest peaks are almost 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).[1]
Environment
Temperatures range from 1 to 29 °C (34 to 84 °F) and average 18 °C (64 °F). Average annual rainfall is 1,250 millimetres (49 in).[3]
Vegetation is mostly rocky fields and cerrado, with clumps of riparian forest in the valleys and ravines.[4]
The park is classified as IUCN protected area category II (national park).
It has the objectives of preserving natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, environmental education, outdoor recreation and eco-tourism.[3]
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