Bays in Motion: Bays are regions of great social and environmental importance. Generally, they are very suitable areas for urban settlement, as they are sheltered coastal environments where a wide variety of ecosystems can be found. However, intense and disordered human occupation results in serious environmental problems that endanger marine life and the balance of an entire region. This is what happened to Guanabara Bay, now surrounded by the second largest metropolitan area in Brazil.

After decades of mistreatment, the bay has accumulated a long list of problems and promises of depollution that have not been fulfilled. However difficult the current scenario may be, nothing would be worse than thinking that it is beyond saving and thus giving up on defending it.

There is much life, beauty, and resilience in Guanabara Bay. And there are many initiatives in favor of its conservation and enhancement. We invite you to navigate this landscape with us and discover its stories, accessing the interactive screens next to the tactile model and using your cell phone to experience augmented reality.

From the mountains to the ocean (braille panel) In an ecosystem, everything is connected in a complex and delicate network. In Guanabara Bay, this involves the connection to the open sea through a channel, which means that half of its waters are renewed every 12 days. It also involves the presence of a mangrove forest, which serves as a nursery for various species. The bay is also affected, of course, by the 17 municipalities and the rivers in its surroundings. Check out the bay's hydrographic basin on this tactile map, which covers 480,000 hectares. The rivers in this area pass through forests, pastures, plantations, and cities, and this is reflected in the quality of their waters when they reach the bay. Thus, to conserve it, it is necessary to care for this entire environment and its population.

From the mountains to the ocean: In an ecosystem, everything is connected in a complex and delicate network of interactions. In Guanabara Bay, this involves the connection to the open sea through a channel, which causes half of its waters to be naturally renewed every 12 days. It also involves the presence of a mangrove forest, which serves as a nursery for various species that inhabit it. And the bay is also affected, of course, by the municipalities surrounding it, such as Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, and Duque de Caxias.

But it goes further: several rivers from different points flow into the bay, forming the Guanabara Bay hydrographic basin. This territory encompasses 17 municipalities and occupies 480,000 hectares (equivalent to 480,000 football fields).

When observing the region's topography, note the course of the main rivers, which cross diverse landscapes: forests, urban areas, pastures, and plantations. Use your cell phone to access an Augmented Reality experience that provides more information about the cultural and environmental richness of this region. Conserving Guanabara Bay involves caring for this entire environment and its population, in a network of collaborations that needs to connect the whole of society.

Captions:

DARK GREEN SQUARE Forest

LIGHT GREEN SQUARE Mangrove

YELLOW SQUARE Pastures and plantations

GRAY SQUARE Urbanized areas

LIGHT POINT Museum of Tomorrow

[QR CODE] English / Español Augmented reality Augmented reality

Beach captions:

. Restinga da Marambaia

2. Barra da Tijuca Beach

3. Copacabana Beach

4. Piratininga Beach

5. Itaipuaçu Beach

6. Maricá-Guarapina Lagoon System