The "trims" of the sierra constitute a unique area in Brazil. They are called like that because the gentle undulated grounds of the plateau end abruptly in vertical precipices resembling a big cheese cut by a knife.

The mountains of basalt arose during the Triassic and Jurassic periods and modelled the landscape with unique characteristics.

The canyon of Itambeizinho, which means "sharpened stone" in the Tupi language, has a length of approximately 5800 metres, a width of 600 to 2000 metres and an average depth of 600 metres. It is 720 metres deep in its maximum deepness.

The reserve is the natural habitat of the puma, the Pampas deer, the Maned wolf, the wildcat, the bald monkey and the bugio, amongst others.

Amongst the birds are the duck sparrow-hawk, the monkey catcher sparrow-hawk, the bricklayer, the ashy eagle, the king buzzard, the blue crane, the partridge, the purple chest parrot, the want-want : and the jacu.

Weather

The weather is subtropical and temperatures frequently drop to 0 C during the months of June and July. Temperatures vary between 20 and 22 C in January, the warmest month in this region. Fogs are common in all the seasons, and they can cover the entire area in a few minutes in a phenomenon known locally as Viracao.

The zone has one of the highest pluvial levels of the southern region, with a total annual of between 1500 and 1750 mm in the lower areas and of 1750 and 2250 mm in the plateau.

The rain distribution is very regular and the rainiest period is situated between August and October. The Atlantic Tropical and the Continental Tropical masses give origin to the trade winds, which have a marked influence in the rains and the local temperatures.

Winds coming from the Atlantic Polar mass are predominant during the rest of the seasons, which cause sudden drops in the temperature accompanied by thin and cold rains when hitting the region.

How to get there

There are two ways of accessing this ecological refuge. Coming from Porto Alegre through the RS-20, or through the BR-101 for those coming from the north of the country. Access is through Praia Grande, ascending through the Sierra of Faxinal up to the entrance of the park