15 March, 2011

Pantanal: Two Days and Much Water

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.Water, water, everywhere...
Foto: © Daniel De Granville, 2011


Upon leaving the paved road, we took a gravel path into the Pantanal, in search for a neat place to watch birds. The way seemed good and the place was promising, up to the moment when we started to see some water on the track, then more and more water. We drove a little further and decided to stop and check out the conditions more carefully. “Will the car make it?”, we wondered. I started to take some pictures while we pondered, when all of a sudden something appears way back, coming on the path. “If that’s a car, it means we can go too”. But no: it was a boat! All we could do was admire the scene, take some more shots and turn around with the car. This is the Pantanal.


Who said that roads are solely for land vehicles?!
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2011


This was the most striking experience of these two days that Tietta and I spent in the town of Miranda (Mato Grosso do Sul), where we will soon present the course “Training birdwatching guides in the Pantanal”, promoted by Photo in Natura in partnership with WCS and Águas do Pantanal Inn and Tour Operator, among many other supporters. The objective is to qualify tour guides, group leaders and other professionals who are interested in learning about this promising and fascinating activity that brings together leisure, conservation, profit and job opportunities.

Birds take off from the flooded fields along the road in Miranda.
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2011

Speaking of courses, it seems as 2011 will be the year in which Photo in Natura will become known as a service provider for professional qualification activities related to wildlife. More soon!
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2 comments:

Garden Grove Termites said...

Its too bad that you were able do bird watching.

How high does it get there when it rains that some would need a boat to move around?

Daniel De Granville said...

Hello "Garden Grove Termites", thanks for your visit. The Pantanal is very flat, so a slight change in the water level is enough to flood vast areas. Usually, in areas that are far from rivers, the water level does not exceeed a couple of feet. Very different from the Amazon region, for example, where it oscilates several meters. Best, Daniel