Pirapitinga Ecological Station is an ecological station in Brazil, on an island in the lake formed by the Três Marias Dam in Minas Gerais.

Location

The reserve has an area of 1384 ha in the cerrado biome. It was created on 20 July 1987. It is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. It is located in the municipality of Morada Nova de Minas in the state of Minas Gerais. When the reservoir of the Três Marias Dam was filled in 1962 the station purchased the island that was formed when the reservoir was full. It has an area of about 1090 ha and a perimeter of 20 km. The lake is 600 m above sea level. The highest point is 60 m above lake level. Average annual rainfall is 1200 mm. Temperature ranges from 18 to 23 C, with average of 21 C. Vegetation includes trees up to 20 m high, with scattered Mata Mesofílica species among the Savannah species. There are distinct layers of savannah vegetation: grasses, shrubs up to 3 m, trees from 8 to 10 m and trees over 15 m. Endemic fauna include curl-crested jay (Cyanocorax cristatellus), peach-fronted parakeet (Eupsittula aurea), shrike-like tanager (Neothraupis fasciata), white-eared puffbird (Nystalus chacuru) and red-bellied macaw (Orthopsittaca manilatus).

Conservation

The Ecological Station is a "strict nature reserve" under IUCN protected area category Ia. It was created to protect the environment and support basic and applied ecological research and education in conservation. The station is a habitat for the near threatened maned wolf and the giant anteater.

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