Goiânia

About 30% of the city area of Goiânia, the capital of Goiás, is green, and it has wooded areas, tree lined streets and parks as amenities for its inhabitants. Among the parks is the Bosque dos Buritis, covering an area of 140,000 m2, where the principal attractions are various species of buriti, a kind of palm tree which produces a yellow fruit. Known as the Spring Capital, Goiânia was planned as a modern city, radiating out from the centre, which in the early days made it very functional. Accelerating growth meant that the original plan was not followed to the letter, but it did not stop the idea of green areas continuing to be incorporated in the city.

The Bosque dos Buritis contains the Monument to World Peace, by the Goiás artist Siron Franco. In it, earth from more than 50 countries is mixed in a seven meter high "ampoule" of concrete and glass which has a capacity of 40 tons. More earth is deposited every year, in a ceremony on world environment day. Other works by Franco, as well as by other Brazilian artists, are on display in the Goiânia Museum of Art, which is situated within the park. Another attraction in Goiânia is the Chico Mendes Botanical Gardens, where there is a lake and a biological reserve containing fruit trees, orchids and bromeliads.