Tag-Archive for ◊ pantanal ◊
Vicki and me fish for Piranhas next to a bunch of Alligators in the Pantanal in Brazil
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The Pantanal is a tropical wetland and the world’s largest wetland of any kind. It lies mostly within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul but extends into Mato Grosso as well as into portions of Bolivia and Paraguay, sprawling over an area estimated at between 140000 square kilometers (54000 sq mi) and 195000 square kilometers (75000 sq mi). Various sub-regional ecosystems exist, each with distinct hydrological, geological and ecological characteristics; up to twelve of them have been defined (RADAMBRASIL 1982).[1][2][3][4][5] 80% of the Pantanal floodplains are submerged during the rainy seasons, nurturing an astonishing biologically diverse collection of aquatic plants and helping support a dense array of animal species. Though the Pantanal inevitably cuts a lower profile than the Amazon Rainforest to its north, its ecosystems are similarly precious. The name “Pantanal” comes from the Portuguese word pântano, meaning wetland, bog, swamp or marsh. By comparison, the Brazilian highlands are locally referred to as the planalto, plateau or, literally, high plain.
Vila Pantanal is a favela village with about 850 families living in an extremely poor situation. Parents do not have a way of giving a good education to their children, including no books to read. The Vila Pantanal Station Project supports 55 children with books and reading programs. The project is officially recognized by the 6th Conference of the Methodist Church of Brazil. The project is managed by Rev. Audir Lopes, and her husband is the Bishop of the Methodist Church in Brazil. Currently, the project provides educational and recreational activities in a school for young children. The activities include Christian and moral education, arts and crafts, music lessons, and sports and recreation. These Christian based programs are very important, because the dominant culture in the favela is the sale and use of illegal drugs. Rev. Audir must always be aware of the presence of local drug lords and potential threats to the safety of the teachers and children
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