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Esteros del Ibera Argentina "Ibera" is Guarani for glittering waters. |
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ABOUT ESTEROS DEL IBERÁ - from MOON HANDBOOKS Argentina Argentinas biggest unsung attraction">
Esteros
del Ibera Argentina "Ibera" is Guarani for
glittering waters.
Argentinas biggest unsung attraction, Esteros del Iberá is a
breathtaking wetland covering up to 13,000 square kilometers (estimates vary), nearly 15
percent of Corrientes Province. Recharged almost exclusively by rainwater, its
really a broad, shallow river, covered by semisubmerged marsh grasses, reeds, and other
water-loving plants; it flows diagonally but almost imperceptibly from the northeast
toward the southwest, where the Río Corrientes enters the middle Paraná. There are also,
however, open-water stretches like Laguna Iberá, a 24,550-hectare lagoon thats
protected under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance. In terms of wildlife, Iberá is an American
Serengetiwhile it may lack the total biomass of Africas famous plain, the
variety of species and the sheer numbers of birds, mammals and reptiles is still awesome.
For these reasons, it has attracted the attention of international conservationists such
as former Esprit clothing magnate Douglas Tompkins, who has purchased several estancias in
the area in the hopes of preserving their natural wealth. http://theconservationlandtrust.org And Iberá needs defenders, as the marshes have a fragile
ecology imperiled by mega-hydroelectric developments of the Yacyretá dam, north of the
city of Ituzaingó. As runoff from Yacyretás rising reservoir seeps into Iberá,
deepening waters threaten to break the link between the marsh vegetation and the dissolved
sediments from which the plants derive their nutrients. Orientation Getting there: It is also possible to fly from Posadas directly to the air
strip at Estancia Rinconc del Socorro, if you are staying there. The flight is via single
engine 4 seater air craft, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Flora and Fauna Biologists have catalogued over 40 species of mammals, 35
species of amphibians, 80 species of fish, and 250300 species of birds. The most
readily seen mammals are the carpincho (capybara, Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris), marsh deer
(Blastoceros dichotomus), and pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus; the mono carayá
(Alouatta caraya, howler monkey) is more easily heard than seen. Less easily seen are the
lobito de río (Paraná otter, Lontra longicaudis) and the largely nocturnal aguará
guazú (maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus). Among the reptiles, there are two species of caimans, the
yacaré overo (Caiman latirostris) and the yacaré negro (Caiman yacare). Australians,
take note: these skinny, meter-plus creatures are not the massive crocodiles of Queensland
and the Northern Territory, and will not pounce out of the swamps in search of human
nourishment. The endangered water curiyú (water boa, Eunectes notaeus) is also present. Birds are far too numerous to mention more than a sample,
but the signature species include the chajá (horned screamer, Chauna torquata), mbiguá
común (olive cormorant, Phalacrocorax olivaceus), several species of storks, herons, and
egrets, and many waterfowl, including the endangered pato crestudo (comb duck,
Sarkidiornis melanotos). Go Prepared: |