One wild wetland

The Pantanal is a crucial and distinctive South American ecosystem covering a vast territory of around 54,000 to 81,000 square miles, depending on the season. The majority of the wetlands sit in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but they push beyond the borders into Bolivia and Paraguay. The name for this massive alluvial plain comes from the Portuguese word pântano, which translates roughly to 'swamp.' And boy, they aren't kidding: During the rainy season—November to March—as much as 80% of the Pantanal is submerged. So visit during the 'dry' season, from around April to October, when the lower water levels make visible the vast array of wildlife in the region.