In the center of the South American continent lies the largest wetland in the world: the Pantanal. It is primarily located in the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso.
The wetlands stretch for about 600 kilometers from north to south along the banks of the upper Paraguay River and several of its tributaries, including the São Lourenço and Taquari rivers.
The Pantanal is a gigantic seasonal floodplain. During the rainy summer season (November-March), the rivers overflow their banks and flood the adjacent lowlands, forming shallow lakes and countless swamps and marshes, leaving higher ground areas as islands. During the drier winter season (April-September), the rivers recede to their banks, but the lowlands are only partially drained.
The Pantanal provides sanctuary for a rich variety of wildlife, with thousands of butterfly species, hundreds of fish species, as well as many mammals and reptiles. The region is also home to various endangered or increasingly rare animals, including the jaguar, the giant anteater, the hyacinth macaw (the largest parrot in the world), the marsh deer, and the giant river otter. Among the approximately 600 bird species that inhabit the region, notable ones include the heron, the ibis, the duck, the rhea (the largest flightless bird in South America), and the jabiru. As the site of thousands of hectares of pastureland where cattle graze, the Pantanal is also one of Brazil’s largest sources of beef.
Among the many other benefits the region offers, its role as a vast area for water purification, aquifer recharge and discharge, and as a water source stands out. Its waterways also provide transportation, and the region as a whole plays an important role in climate stabilization. By the end of the 20th century, the activities of miners and farmers in neighboring areas, as well as the impacts of poachers and tourists in the Pantanal itself, threatened to disrupt the delicate ecology of the wetlands. Conservation efforts included the inscription in 2000 of the Pantanal Conservation Complex—a set of four protected areas in the southwestern corner of Mato Grosso state—as a UNESCO World Heritage natural site.
Ecotourism
The Pantanal is one of the most popular ecotourism destinations in the world. It offers as much excitement and chances to spot wildlife—if not more—than any other place. Travelers can stay at a lodge in the Pantanal, hike in nature, ride through the wetlands, or venture on a zipline through the forest canopy—all with minimal impact on the environment.
In general, temperatures remain warm, around 27°C during the day and 15°C at night. From June to August are the coolest and driest months, with typical autumn temperatures around 10°C at night and 21°C during the day. Due to the lack of rain in winter, the rivers become even clearer during these months.
Travelers should inquire about the methods their guide or tour agency in Brazil uses to protect the environment and minimize the negative impact of their operations. It is possible to check with the Brazilian Ecotourism Association or a similar entity if the agency or lodge in the Pantanal is registered.
Some Interesting Facts
• The largest snake in the Pantanal is the yellow anaconda. It measures up to 4.5 meters and feeds on fish, birds, and small mammals.
• The largest fish in the Pantanal is a giant catfish that reaches 1.5 meters in length and weighs up to 55 kg.
• The annual flooding of the rivers in the region covers about 80% of the Pantanal and transforms the area into an impressive flooded plain, forcing part of the rural population to temporarily migrate to cities or villages.
• The Pantanal attracts about 700,000 tourists a year, with 65% of them being fishermen.
• The 210,000 square kilometers of the Pantanal are equivalent to the sum of the areas of four European countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
• The jaguar of the Pantanal can weigh 68 kg and feeds on about 85 species of animals in the region.
• Every 24 hours, about 674 billion liters of water enter the wetland plain.
• There are more bird species in the Pantanal (656 species) than in North America (500) and more fish species than in Europe (263 in the Pantanal compared to about 200 in European rivers).
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica