It is in the Paraíba Valley metropolitan region, which is known for its green landscape, cool mountain climate and European architecture.

The park contains large numbers of exotic pine trees and remnants of secondary forest around the Salto dam.

[1] The park protects the headwaters of the Córrego do Coutinho and Ribeirão das Perdizes streams, which form the Sapucaí Guaçu River, a tributary of the Rio Grande.

The Salto Dam was built in 1940 where the two streams meet, and accounts for 60% of the water used by the city.

[1] The park is part of the Mantiqueira Mosaic of conservation units, established in 2006.