At a first glance the Amazon Rainforest looks like a big green “carpet”, but looking closer one find an astonishing diversity, both concerning animal life –mammals, birds, fish and insects & plants. More than 1/3 of all known species in the world can be found in the Amazon and many plant and animal species are still being discovered by scientists. In addition, many plants have rich curative powers and it is no exagaration to call the rainforest the nature´s pharmacy. The local people have the knowledge of the species and what they can be used for and it is like a living lesson to participate in a “jungle walk” accompanied by a skillfull guide explaining about the rich vegetation and the wildlife that can be found in the dense forest. The vegetation on the river banks or in the igapós, the blackwater flooded forests, varies a lot depending on the location and the experience to travel around in small river canoes is very rich. The humidity is constantly very high and quick heavy rains is a part of the rainforest experience. One of the most exciting experiences is to participate in a night walk looking for night active animals and listen to the sounds of the forest imagining how it would be to live in the forest like a native, in complete darkness. To gaze the sky is another wonderful activity, since there is no visual pollution by artificial ligthning, the universe present itself in great splendour and clearness. To be surprised with a sudden natural thunder & lightning “show” adds an extra dimension to the experience.
Everything is huge about the Amazon and the Amazon River is the largest in the world by discharge of water and disposes 20% of all freshwater on earth into the ocean. The variety of height can be up to 15 m and it is very interesting both to visit in flooding season and in the drier season, with lower water levels, in any case you can be sure that there is always more than enough water in the river. For most people it is a positive surprise that The Rio Negro, the largest tributary to the great Amazon, is almost without mosquitos due to its acid water.
It is simply majestic to travel by canoe quietly observing the nature and its wildlife, being a part of nature. Altogether a lesson and an experience for life!
