Rains have turned it red and unctuous, like a fresh wound sutured by tread marks. But in the middle of this century, Brazil roused to the rhythms of the industrial era, and soon roads were slicing through the farthest reaches of this demi-continent. The Transpantaneira was one of the roadbuilders' crowning achievements. The marshes, lakes and rivers of the Pantanal comprise a natural steam bath that helps sustain a fabulous concentration of wildlife.
Birders take particular delight in the diverse avian community, which includes great egrets.
Photo copyright by George Harrison. All rights reserved. Now development-minded Latin American businesses and politicians want more and better transportation, and they are again eyeing the region's rivers. If they have their way, a proposed inland waterway called the Hidrovia would become the primary artery of commerce not just in Mato Grosso but through the hearts of five South American nations. But critics warn that the Hidrovia could pull the plug on the Pantanal, draining the life out of the wildlife-rich region and changing the lives of its residents for the worse.