The Serra do Curral is the limestone ridge that closes off the south side of the city — the long, wavy horizon line that gives Belo Horizonte its name. The ridge has been an official municipal symbol since 1960 and is visible from almost everywhere in town.
Active mining and quarrying threatened the ridge for decades; a long environmental campaign in the 2000s and 2010s eventually shut down most of the operations on its slopes. Several walking trails climb to the top from the Parque das Mangabeiras and other access points. The views from the summit on a clear morning are exceptional.