mountain range of eastern Brazil, rising abruptly from the northwestern bank of the Rio Paraíba do Sul and extending northeastward for approximately 200 mi (320 km), reaching a height of 9,255 ft (2,821 m) in the Pico (peak) das Agulhas Negras. The mountains, which eventually merge with the Serra do Espinhaço, were originally forest-covered except for the peaks that rise above the tree line. They provide charcoal and pasture for cattle; on the lower slopes there are several health resorts, including Campos do Jordão. The name Mantiqueira derives from an Indian word meaning “the place where the clouds lie.”