The river is fed by streams rising in the Araucárias National Park, a 12,841 hectares (31,730 acres) conservation unit created in 2005.[2] Other headwaters rise in the 6,566 hectares (16,220 acres) Mata Preta Ecological Station, a fully protected area created in 2005.[3] The river supplies water to the municipality of Abelardo Luz, Santa Caterina.