The Pantanal is a vast wetland area covering portions of Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. With an area reaching up to 200,000 square kilometers in the rainy season, the Pantanal is the world's largest wetland. The principal source of incoming water is the Rio Paraguay. The dominant vegetation is grassland and savanna. The Pantanal is thus a key global example of the flooded grassland and savanna ecosystem.
The Pantanal has received little global attention compared to the Amazon. However, in addition to supplying fresh water and groundwater to neighboring areas, it is host to vast biodiversity. This includes over 650 species of birds and 250 species of fish. Portions of the Pantanal have been officially protected, such as Brazil's Pantanal Matogrossense national park. Nonetheless, the Pantanal remains threatened by pressures for development and drainage.
Pictures were taken by Rhett A. Butler, copyright 2008. While these photos are the property of mongabay.com, it may be permissible to use them for non-commercial purposes (like powerpoint presentations and school projects), provided that the images are not altered in any form. Please read this for more details. If you are interested in using an image in a publication please contact me.
