The Amazon Basin and Eastern Lowlands

The Amazon, Bolivia - photo by TERRA ANDINA (www.bolivia-travels.com)

V!VA User‘s Description

Taking up almost 70% of the country’s landmass, Bolivia’s sparsely-populated ‘Oriente’ includes the northeast rainforest of the Beni and Pando departments and the lowlands of Santa Cruz department. Compared to other South American countries, the region has suffered relatively little deforestation, making it an excellent place to venture off the beaten track and into virgin jungle. Relatively untouched by settlers and tourists, wildlife still abounds; in fact, three of the country’s best-known national parks, Amboró, Kaa-Iya, and Noel Kempff Mercado, all of which lie in this area, have one of the planet’s highest biodiversity rates, with more species of birds, mammals and plant life combined than any comparable area in the world (at 55,945 sq. kms., roughly that of Croatia).

Read more...