[2] The park is in the Chapada das Mesas region, which has significant tourist potential due its pleasant climate, sandstone cliffs with rock carvings, many waterfalls and other attractions.

Within the park the two main tourist attractions for many years were the São Romão and Prata waterfalls.

[2] As a national park the basic objectives are preservation of natural ecosystems of great ecological relevance and scenic beauty, enabling scientific research, educational activities, outdoor recreation and eco-tourism.

The park was created primarily because it is an untouched Cerrado area that is threatened by the recent expansion of the agricultural frontier in Maranhão.

[2] Protected species in the park include the oncilla (Leopardus tigrinus), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), cougar (Puma concolor), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), bare-faced curassow (Crax fasciolata) and Chaco eagle (Buteogallus coronatus).