Ibera Marshland

The biodiversity of the marshes and lagoons of Ibera to the north of the Province of Corrientes make it one of the most remarkable ecosystems in Argentina. A lush mosaic of grassy meadows and spongy swamps, this part of Argentina houses some rare and endangered denizens like giant anaconda, wolves, crocodiles and marsh deers. To preserve this and its great variety of species of flora and fauna, Ibera Nature Reserve was created in 1983, comprising over a million hectares. It contains a complex network of shallows, marshes, lagoons, natural dykes and reservoirs and water courses, all originating from rainfall. Over 50,000 hectares of the marshlands consist of large amounts of static water, with a depth of up to three meters, covered by a blanket of water plants that float or rise from the bottom. There are also water hyacinth beds, with their floating formations hiding the surface of the water, formed by break offs from the banks of the rivers and lagoons.