The Pantanal Paraguayo

The Pantanal is the major system of humedales of the world cite web |url=http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0110-ci.html |title="Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, disappearing finds new report" |accessdate=10 enero 2006|author=Rhett A. Butler |publisher=mongabay.com] cite web |url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/greatrivers/samerica/art16176.html |title="The World's largest wetland" |accessdate=21 enero 2008|publisher=Conservación de la natura] , and includes the territories of Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia. One constitutes great interior delta where annually the waters raise several meters, flooding an extensive territory, and then they move back, creating a natural stage of great beauty, refuge of birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. And porqué not, a refuge also for the persons who want to escape to a totally different place.

It covers approximately 150.000 km ² Susan Mcgrath, foto Joel Sartore, "Brazil's Wild Wet", National Geographic Magazine, agosto 2005] in the high basin of the river Paraguay. Considered as one of the interesting mas of America for his natural and cultural environment.

The fluvial tourism is a modality that this growing in the Paraguay. Cruises of luxury and ships that travel from the river Paraguay, end upstream in the pantanal, scene(stage) of a living spectacle of great interest: native.

Fuerte Olimpo, Gateway to Pantanal

Since Paraguay, the gateway to the Pantanal is the city of Fuerte Olimpo, located on the left bank of Paraguay River, on the border with Brazil. It arrives overland, across the road and Transchaco stretches of land by river by boats, ships and cruises, and also by air, since Fuerte Olimpo has an airstrip.

Fuerte Olimpo is a city with an interesting history and natural attractions. At all times the landscape produces a sense of immensity three consecutive hills called "Three Sisters" was erected in the centre of Fuerte Olimpo, is built around people and kind of simple people.

The "hill environment" has a trail of 535 steps and 10 stations environmental interpretation. At the top there is a viewpoint which is called an overview of the screen Nabileque and Sierra Bodoquena.

At the top of a hill stands the Fuerte Borbon, built in 1792 by the Spaniards to defend themselves against incursions by the Bandeirantes Portuguese. The stone fortification is at a high altitude, like a balcony over the river and the bay.

From the top of another hill, the Cathedral of Maria Auxiliadora, built with stones of the place, observes the river and the gentle undulation of waters, the boats and ships that pass. It is notable for the elegant facade, the front needle and reminiscent of medieval towers.

Their campaigns were manufactured in Italy and its clock brought Germany. The clock from the top mark the passage of time seems slower and quiet on this earth.

You can visit the city indigenous Ishira "Most Holy Virgin," there may even be a Shaman singing their songs magical. The natives manufactured with skills inherited from their ancestors, crafts in wood, feathers and natural fabrics which are distinguished by their authenticity and beauty.

A walk through the Paraguay River

Go up the river in boats or ships tourist activity is ideal for assessing all the beauty and variety of fauna and flora of the Pantanal, the country of palm forests and hills of the region themselves. The Pantanal is an ideal territory for the practice of photographic safaris for its rich fauna; we can see a wide variety of wild animals; yacare, capybaras ,boas ,otters and five species of monkeys. There is also a wildlife out of the zone, as iguanas squirrels giant otters or arira'i.

The interesting variety of birds deserves a separate chapter. The Paraguay River is generous to people who engage in fishing has a large number and variety of fish estimated at more than 120 species. You can rent boats for fishing trips or simply to contemplate the landscape.

A site visit is important for the Margarita Island, located in the middle of the Paraguay River between the colony Carmelo Peralta (Paraguay) and Porto Murtinho (Brazil).

Another site in the Pantanal is Bahia Negra, the most northern port of Paraguay where the refuge biological "Big Three" of the founding [http://www.guyra.org.py/ Gyra Paraguay] . Upstream can be seen the Tripartite Hito, which marks the border between Paraguay ,Brazil and Bolivia.

Haven full of Birds

The Paraguayan Pantanal is of great importance for bird conservation. Tuyuyues, herons ducks, storks, mbiguaes and kingfisher. There are now 354 species on this site wetland rivers, forests, palm.

More than 50% of the avifauna of Paraguay is concentrated in the Pantanal area of these 354 species, 71 are of high conservation values as they are globally threatened and can be seen in the Paraguayan Pantanal where even kept in a natural state.

pecial Times

Feeling nature, breathe fresh air, watch birds in flight are feelings that can not be explained. An activity is bound to capture unforgettable images with the camera; the mbigua flight of a boat to work, a sunset in the immense sky of the Chaco. The sunsets in the Pantanal are moments of sublime contemplation.

How to get to Fuerte Olimpo

By land

Route Transchaco (paved) until pioneers crossing (409 kms.) there takes a route not paved until Fuerte Olimpo 361 km in total 770 km. Another option is Asunción - Loma Plata (444 km asphalt) and then Loma Plata - Fuerte Olimpo (333 km non-paved) 777 km.

Waterway

Since Concepción, every Tuesday at 11, the party boat Aquidaban. This journey goes from Concepcion to Bahia Negra, where returns on Friday at approximately 8 pm. The cruise offers trips to Paraguayan Pantanal (Concepción-Fuerte Olimpo-Concepción)

Airway

There is an airstrip for light aircraft which enabled can be rented at airports in the country.

Bibliography

* [http://www.pantanal.org/pantanal.htm Pantanal (ingles)]
* EVP - Wikipedia
* [http://www.evp.edu.py/index.php?title=Portada Enciclopedia Virtual Paraguaya - Portal ]

References

External links

* [http://www.vivaparaguay.com/modules/news/article.php?item_id=82629 Viva Paraguay.com]
* [http://bolivianet.com/turismo/pantanal/index.htm (Spanish)]
* [http://www.brazilfilms.com/locs_centre.htm (photos)]