Imagine a Haor bigger than Bangladesh. It fills with water during the rains and empties in dry season. This is the Pantanal, one of the world’s great wilderness areas. It is a wetland in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state that extends into Bolivia and Paraguay. Covering between 54,000 and 75,000 square miles, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for its ecological diversity.
Brazil, the 5th largest country in the world, occupies almost half of the South American continent. Not only is it rich in both culture and natural beauty, it is also home to a third of the world’s largest rainforest. So if you like both city life and outdoor activities, Brazil is definitely a destination worth considering. Brazil is also rich in history, and has world-class museums and stunning architecture throughout the country. Brazil is also famous for its music – it fills the streets, especially during Brazil’s major festivals. And festivals take place all year round. Planning your trip Brazil
Wetlands—places where the land is covered by water, either salt, fresh, or somewhere in between—cover just over 6% of the Earth’s land surface. Sprinkled throughout every continent except Antarctica, they provide food, clean drinking water, and refuge for countless people and animals around the world. Despite their global significance, an estimated one-half of all wetlands on the planet have disappeared.
Amid the loss, one specific wetland stands out: the Pantanal. At more than 42 million acres, the Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland and one of the most pristine in the world. It sprawls across three South American countries—Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay—and supports millions of people there, as well as communities in the lower Rio de la Plata Basin.
WWF is working on the ground to conserve the region through the creation of protected areas and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
Check out these facts about the Pantanal that every wetland enthusiast should know!
1. The Pantanal is larger than 29 US states and at least nine European countries.
At more than 49.4 million acres, the Pantanal is the largest and one of the most pristine wetlands in the world.
Wetlands—places where the land is covered by water, either salt, fresh, or somewhere in between—cover just over 6% of the Earth’s land surface. Sprinkled throughout every continent except Antarctica, they provide food, clean drinking water, and refuge for countless people and animals around the world. Despite their global significance, an estimated one-half of all wetlands on the planet have disappeared.
Amid the loss, one specific wetland stands out: the Pantanal. At more than 49.4 million acres, the Pantanal is the largest and one of the most pristine wetlands in the world. The Pantanal sprawls across three South American countries—Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay—and supports millions of people there, as well as communities in the lower Rio de la Plata Basin.
WWF is working on the ground to conserve the region through the creation of protected areas and promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
Check out these facts about the Pantanal that every wetland enthusiast should know!
Africa may have a lock on our collective imagination when it comes to safaris, but there are plenty of places outside of Africa where you can come face-to-face with wildlife in its natural habitat, too — think Canada’s “Kings of the Arctic,” Brazil’s big cats, the wolves of Romania, and so much more.
So, if Africa doesn’t figure into your travel plans this year, don’t despair. Here are seven trips that prove you don’t have to go all that way to have an authentic bucket-list safari.
Meet polar bears, ‘Kings of the Arctic,’ in Manitoba, Canada
What it doesn’t have in Big Five wildlife, Canada more than makes up for with its own impressive safari finds, including moose, grizzly bears and even reindeer. Still, it’s seeing polar bears in the wild that many people consider North America’s once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience.
Looking for a travel destination that’s unique and underrated? These 10 lesser known natural wonders are perfect to add to your travel bucket list!
If you’re looking for a place where you’ll be inspired, where you’ll see some of the most beautiful sights in your lifetime, these 10 travel destinations around the world are perfect to add to your bucket lists. Not only are these natural wonders absolutely stunning, but this mix of known and lesser-known trips will take you to unique spots of unspoiled beauty. Here are the world’s most gorgeous natural wonders you must visit:
Pink Lakes, Mexico
The pink lakes, or Las Coloradas, in Mexico are the hidden gems of the country, a magical wonder of color. These cotton-candy pink lakes, filled with salt, are home to protected wetlands rich in wildlife – flamingos, sea turtles, crocodiles, birds, and more.
Living in the Yucatan jaguars seemed ever present whether visiting Maya ruins or the protected preserves of Pronatura Peninsula de Yucatan’s private El Zapotal Reserve, the private Kaxil Kiuic Biocultural Reserve and Calakmul Biosphere Reserve , and in architecture, literature, art and sculpture. To the Maya, the jaguar led the transition between the living world and underworld, a symbol of power, energy, fertility, a great hunter, and warrior. Friends even discussed their excitement of a jaguar crossing a road in Calakmul. I never saw one but was pleased protected areas exist.
However, did any of us ever “paw-nder” the daily life of a jaguar, this powerful, solitary, nocturnal creature of shadows and stealth?
Spanning Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia and home to 4,700 species, the Pantanal wetlands are under threat from deforestation and agriculture. But local people are taking on the challenge to protect this unique region.
Inside a small aircraft, decorated with a polka-dot jaguar design, Ângelo Rabelo checks data on a small laptop computer. “We’re approaching a river spring!” he shouts over the plane’s noisy engine.
Below, the Paraguay river in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state snakes between clusters of vibrant green forest and extensive patches of farmland. The plane flies over a large, barren-looking stretch of light brown land where soy is being grown. A small buffer zone of trees separates the crops from the river, in which lies a pulsating spring.
