PANTANAL:
A marvel of nature
The Pantanal is the largest wetland in South America
and, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful places in
Brazil.
Its main area is located in the state of Mato Grosso
do Sul and is known as the Pantanal Sul (Southern Pantanal),
with the city of Corumbá as its main entry point.
It is considered one of the most important and diverse
ecosystems of the planet.
One of its main assets is its abundant wildlife: caimans,
fish, capybaras, tapirs, Pantanal deer, herons, blue
macaws, jabiru storks, etc...
The Pantanal was declared "National Patrimony"
by the 1988 Constitution and "Patrimony of Mankind"
and "Biosphere Reserve" by the UNESCO.
According to WWF (1999) it is home to 650 species of
bird, 80 species of mammals, 260 species of fish and
50 species of reptiles.
The Pantanal is a region of great biobiodiversity and
one of the great refuges for the American fauna. Just
as an illustration, to date more than 263 species of
fish, 122 species of mammals, 93 species of reptiles,
1,132 species of butterflies, 656 species of birds and
1,700 species of plants have been classified.
