Partner Living Lakes
Ecotrópica
Partner Lake since
2000
Origin
Periodical flooding of the Paraguay river and its tributaries
National Park
World Heritage
Biosphere Reserve
Ramsar site (since 2001)
Size
230,000 sq. km [km²], including the catchment area
largerst fresh water wetland worldwide
Protected areas
Pantanal National Park (1,350 sq. km)
Tayama Ecologial Station (150 sq. km)
various private protected areas (close to 1,500 sq. km)
Sea level
approx. 100 m
Rainy period
October to March
Salinity
fresh water,
in the south: salt water lagoons
Location
Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay
Vegetation
dynamic "plant societies" consisting of grasses, wet forest, dry forest, water plants, palms, etc.
Animals
largest concentration of great animals in the new world,
largest area for hibernation of waders and waterfowl coming from Canada and North-America
Birds
665 species
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthus)
Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)
Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco)
Jabiru Stork (Jabiru mycteria)
Red-throated Piping Guan (Pipile cujubi)
Spix´s Guan (Penelope jacquacu)
123 species
Giant Otter (Ptenorura brasiliensis)
Tapir (Tapirus terrestris)
Jaguar (Panthera onca palustris)
Black Howler Monkey (Alouatta caraya)
Tufted Capuchin (Cebus apella)
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
Fish
265 species
Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri)
Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum)
Plants
Noteworthies
Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare)
Biggest problem
the Hidrovia, a planned scheme to channel 3,400 km of the Paraguay and Paraná rivers,
occupation of the highlands around the Pantanal with large monocultures,
gold and diamond mining,
urbanization,
construction of dams
Greatest success
privately run protected areas