Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pantanal
5
The world's largest wetland, the Pantanal provides a
habitat for the greatest concentration of animals in the
Western Hemisphere. Innumerable waterbirds gather
toward the end of the dry season. There are plenty of
reptiles and large mammals, including caimans, tapirs,
giant anteaters, and all of Brazil's eight feline species.
The secret to the vast numbers of animals lies in the
diversity of habitats and the geography of the Pantanal,
a gently sloping bowl which floods when nutrient-rich
tributaries drain from the ancient sedimentary rocks of
the Brazilian Shield and get trapped. Aquatic plants
breed profusely and these provide ample food for fish
and birds, who, in turn, feed the rest of the food chain.
Green Kingfisher
The green kingfisher is one
of five types of kingfisher to
inhabit the Pantanal. It is
seen on the banks of small,
undisturbed rivers and
makes its nest in a tunnel.
Barra do
Bugres
0 km
50
0 miles
50
Porto
Estrêla
Santa
Bárbara
Porto
Esperidião
Cáceres
Aguapeí
San Matías
Anhinga
The anhinga is a relative of the
cormorant and is a common sight in
the Pantanal. As it has no wax in its
feathers, it must dry its wings in the
sun after diving for fish.
Pixaim
The Parque Nacional do
Pantanal Matogrossense
formally protects a small
percentage of the
Pantanal UNESCO World
Heritage Site.
PN DO PANTAN
AL
MATOGR
OSSENSE
Amolar
Paiaguás
The Estrada Parque
dirt road
cuts through the southern
Pantanal and leads to the
wildlife-rich region of
Nhecolândia. Like the
Transpantaneira, it is lined
with
fazendas
(farms).
Co
rumbá
Ur
ucum
Piraputangas
Puga
Carandazal
Bodoquena
São Simão
Brahmin Cattle
The most common animals in the
Pantanal are Brahmin cattle who are
herded by local cowboys, or
pantaneiros
.
KEY
International airport
Domestic airport
STAR SIGHTS
. Estrada
Transpantaneira
Porto
Murtinho
Major road
Minor road
Caracol
San
Lázaro
Railroad
. Fazendas
San
Carlos
International border
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp385-6 and pp409-10
