Mantiqueira Mountains

Mantiqueira Mountains, eastern Brazil.

Mantiqueira Mountains, mountain range of eastern Brazil. It rises abruptly from the northwestern bank of the Paraíba do Sul River and extends northeastward for approximately 200 miles (320 km), reaching a height of 9,255 feet (2,821 metres) in the Pico (peak) das Agulhas Negras.

The mountains, which eventually merge with the Espinhaço Mountains were originally forest-covered except for the peaks that rise above the tree line. They provide charcoal and pasture for cattle; on the lower slopes there are several health resorts, including Campos do Jordão. The name Mantiqueira derives from a Native American word meaning “the place where the clouds lie.”