The Parque do Flamengo (Flamengo Park) was created during a landfill project in 1965, when the São Antônio hill in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was razed. The park was constructed by renowned architect Lota de Macedo Soares and its gardens were designed by Roberto Burle Marx, a famous Brazilian landscaper. This combination of talent resulted in a spectacular park that is home to over 170,000 trees. The popular park is the city's largest public leisure area, situated on 1.2 million square meters of verdant land. Acting as the starting point of numerous marathons, and as one of the primary segments of the annual Rio de Janeiro Cycling Race, the park is a popular walking and jogging spot for the city’s active locals. The park is also home to three museums, including the Monumento Nacional aos Mortos da II Guerra Mundia, a museum which acts as a monument to the World War II Dead Soldiers, and on holidays and Sundays throughout the year, the avenues that wind through the park are closed from sunrise until 6pm. Another must-visit park in Rio de Janeiro is the iconic Jardim Botanico, which is a verdant 54-acre paradise in Rio de Janeiro's Zona Sul (South Zone) district which hosts over 6,500 species of Brazilian and foreign flora and fauna.
