The Pantanal Complex, or simply Pantanal, is a biome that covers almost 2% of the Brazilian territory, with a total area of about 250,000 square kilometers. It is known as the largest floodable area on the planet and spans parts of the states of Mato Grosso (65%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (35%), as well as portions of Bolivia and Paraguay.

To match the territorial extension of the Pantanal, it would be necessary to combine four European countries. They are Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Among the most significant areas is the Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park. Established in 1981, this is a substantial preservation area covering 135,000 hectares. Tourism there is restricted by environmental preservation laws and overseeing authorities.

The Pantanal has an immense flora, with over 3,500 species of terrestrial and aquatic plants. Therefore, it is one of the richest ecosystems on the planet and is considered the most preserved biome in the world. It also has the highest concentration of animals per square kilometer, with around 400 species of fish and more than 6,000 types of birds, among other animals.

Known as the “home” of many species of plants and animals, the Pantanal is famous for its concentration of wildlife, including jaguars, blue macaws, and giant otters (which are a type of large otter that lives in groups).

An interesting fact about the jaguar is that it is the third-largest feline in the world and the largest in the Americas. Unfortunately, it is extinct in the United States, and its population in Brazil is small and also at risk of extinction. Due to the predatory hunting of this animal and the increasing human occupation in its natural habitat, the Pantanal serves as a refuge for this and other species.

Even though it is a unique biome, did you know that the Pantanal is composed of 11 microregions? They are made up of different fauna and flora formations.

Therefore, if you were to visit a region close to where we are located, for example, in Serra da Bodoquena, Mato Grosso do Sul, it would not be the same as visiting the Pantanal in Paraguayan territory. This section extends from Caracará Island, on the borders of Cáceres Pantanal, to the Urucum Massif, south of Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, and mostly represents the vast floodplain of the Paraguay River.