Best described as: a desert with scattered fresh water ponds, and possibly one of the most beautiful sights in Brazil. This region is now the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park which was established in 1981 aiming to protect and study this ecological system. It is now starting to be a tourist attraction.
Notwithstanding its desert-like appearence, Lençóis Maranhenses records an annual rainfall of 1600mm (i.e. 62.9 inches). All that water comes down during the well marked rainy season, from January to June. Fishes, crustaceans and turtles reappear as if they had never left the place.
From July to December, in the dry period, dozens of ponds drain completely or partially. For a visit, the best time of the year is from May to October, when the natural pools are still filled with water.The dunes, which sometimes reach up to 20mts or 65 feet, consist of a very white sand. The landscape is in permanent change, and thus no one has the privilege to see the same sight twice.
More details at:
http://www.parquelencois.com.br/ and about trips to be arranged by Giltur (recommended):
http://www.giltur.com.br/
(c) Sander van Hulsenbeek