My  photo provides a perfect setting for this week’s post as I tell you about our canoe trip  through the flooded forest within the Anavilhanas Archipelago.  It is almost impossible to tell where the trees end and the river mirror images begin.  Let me provide a little background before I begin my story.

The Anavilhanas Archipelago is the second largest river archipelago in the world. the area covers 350,000 hectares (approximately 850,000 acres) has about 400 islands, 60 lakes and numerous river channels called paranás as well as furos which are narrow paths which cross the flooded forests, called igapós.  These form an immense  labyrinth.

The fluctuation of the water level during wet and dry season is between 26 and 40 feet. During high tide during the wet season, the islands and most of the vegetation are flooded so that even the tops of the trees are below water.  During the dry season, which is the time I visited, more is visible above the water and the visual is mesmerizing. The water is like glass, in some places you can see to the bottom, in other places it appears to be fathomless.  The sun can stream to the trees or get caught up in the leaves creating patterns of light and shadow – it is a surreal world.

Ready for the view?  I had a prime seat – in a canoe with our guide Rob:

Vitor was super busy with his drone camera:

As well as his hand held :

I was able to get some shots of the ethereal beauty of these floodlands – enjoy!

 

 

 

#