Diverse recreational activities characterize São Paulo. The Botanical Gardens and the São Paulo Zoo are located about 14 km (about 9 mi) south of the city center. The zoo is one of the five largest in the world and houses over 3500 specimens. Nearby visitors can drive through the Simba Safari on a 4-km (3-mi) route observing African animals in the open air. The world-renowned Butanta Institute, a research center specializing in the study of snakes and snake venom, is also a popular tourist attraction. Ibirapuera Park, about 6 km (about 4 mi) south of the downtown, is the city's largest park and a major recreational focus for its residents. One of the city's most famous landmarks, the obelisk and mausoleum honoring those who fought in a 1932 revolt against the federal government, is adjacent to the park.
