Pantanal

Splash. Splish. Chirp. Chirp. Can you hear my watery music? I am a giant, watery playground. Sometimes, I am a huge, sparkly lake where the sky can see its face. Other times, when the water goes down, I am a field of green islands with little rivers that wiggle and giggle through the grass. I love when the sun tickles my water and makes everything warm. I am the Pantanal, the biggest wetland in the whole wide world.

For a very, very long time, gentle rivers have brought me cool, fresh water. They helped me become a cozy home for so many amazing animal friends. Spotty jaguars play peek-a-boo behind the big green leaves. Fuzzy capybaras, who look like giant guinea pigs, nibble on yummy grass all day long. Bright, colorful birds fly like rainbows, painting the sky with their pretty wings. So many people loved my animal friends and wanted to keep them safe from harm. A little while ago, on December 2nd, 2000, they decided to make me a very special place called a World Heritage Site. That means everyone promised to help keep me clean and safe for all the animals forever and ever.

Today, friendly people come to visit me in little boats. They float quietly on my waters and say hello. They wave at the sleepy caimans who are warming up in the sun on the riverbanks. They giggle when the playful otters pop their heads out of the water to look around with their shiny, dark eyes. I love sharing my watery world and all my animal secrets with my visitors. I am a beautiful reminder that our world is full of amazing, wild places that we can all help take care of.