Xingu National Park

location of Xingu National Park in Brazil

The Parque Nacional Xingu (pronounced [ʃĩˈɡu]) is located in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil and was created on April 14, 1961, signed by President Jânio Quadros. The area of the park is 2,642,003 ha.(26,420 km²), and it is contained in the municipalities of Mato Grosso; Canarana, Paranatinga, São Félix do Araguaia, São José do Xingu, Gaúcha do Norte, Feliz Natal, Querência, União do Sul, Nova Ubiratã and Marcelândia.

Pátio da Aldeia Kamaiurá, Alto-Xingu. Indigenous people playing the "Uruá" flute

The National Park created with the twin objectives of protecting the environment and the indigenous populations of the area.

The tribes which are present includes (population as of 2002) Kamayurá (355), Kaiabi (745), Yudjá (248), Aweti (138), Mehinako (199), Wauja (321), Yawalapiti (208), Ikpeng (319), Kalapalo (417), Kuikuro (415), Matipu (119), Nahukwá (105), Suyá (334) and Trumai (120). The population is growing at 3% per year.

Part of the intrigue of the Xingu area is the drama associated with early-20th century exploration by Europeans, among whom perhaps Percy Harrison Fawcett is most notable. He sought out a city rumored since early 16th century European contact. David Grann's book, The Lost City of Z documents not only those early explorations, but more recent findings supporting the concept of large-scale civilizations pre-dating Spanish and Portuguese contacts.