The Pantanal is a biome that covers almost 2% of the Brazilian territory, with a total area of around 250 thousand km². It is known for being the largest floodable area on the planet and occupies part of the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as part of the territories of Bolivia and Paraguay.
Because it brings together species found in all other regions and also because it presents different landscapes, which sometimes they resemble the Amazon, sometimes they resemble the Caatinga or the Cerrado, this region is also known as Pantanal Complex.
The waters of the Pantanal plain flow directly to the Paraguay River, which has a basin with low altitudes, not exceeding 100 meters in any of its points.
The rivers that supply the Pantanal, on the other hand, come from very high regions and, therefore, the waters accumulate easily, transforming the Pantanal into a large floodplain, especially in the period rainy.
Flood plain in the Pantanal
Its flora is made up of more than 1500 different types of vegetation. As we have already said, its vegetation cover presents different types of physiognomies that resemble many other Brazilian landscapes. There are hygrophilous and xerophilic plants, as well as buritis, grasses and several other types of plants. It is very difficult to define the Pantanal as a whole in a photo or image because of its plurality.
The fauna is very rich and diverse. In fact, it is considered the area with the highest concentration of animals per square kilometer in the Americas. In total, there are almost 700 types of birds, 280 species of fish, 1300 species of butterfly, 80 types of mammals and 50 types of reptiles.
Alligator Caiman – species of reptile found in the Brazilian Pantanal.
The Pantanal is one of the richest areas biologically, as well as being one of the most beautiful places in the world.
By Rodolfo Alves Pena
Graduated in Geography
