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The Pantanal, Brazil
One wild wetland
The Pantanal is a crucial and distinctive South American ecosystem covering a vast territory of around 140,000 to 210,000 square kilometres, depending on the season. The majority of the wetlands sit in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but they push beyond the borders into Bolivia and Paraguay. The name for this massive alluvial plain comes from the Portuguese word pântano, which translates roughly to "swamp". And boy, they aren't kidding – during the rainy season of November to March, as much as 80% of the Pantanal is submerged. So visit during the "dry" season, from around April to October, when the lower water levels make visible the vast array of wildlife in the region.
One wild wetland
The Pantanal is a crucial and distinctive South American ecosystem covering a vast territory of around 140,000 to 210,000 square kilometres, depending on the season. The majority of the wetlands sit in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but they push beyond the borders into Bolivia and Paraguay. The name for this massive alluvial plain comes from the Portuguese word pântano, which translates roughly to "swamp". And boy, they aren't kidding – during the rainy season of November to March, as much as 80% of the Pantanal is submerged. So visit during the "dry" season, from around April to October, when the lower water levels make visible the vast array of wildlife in the region.
© Atlantide Phototravel / Corbis Documentary / Getty Images 2026-09-11 08:45:52 :