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Amazonas river
The Amazonian
Also
called jungle, forest, or orient. It is the geographical area located at
the east of the Mountain Range of Andes. It is a huge geologic
depression in which prevail the big plains, hills, small mountain
ranges, flooded lands in time of grown of rivers, etc.
It
occupies 62% of the Peruvian territory and its population density is
very low (8%). Great quantity of rivers, all tributaries of the Amazonas
River (Amazon River).
This
region is characterized by a humid tropical weather, with an average
temperature of 25°C (77°F), rains of 1,000 to 2,000 mm, in which has
been developed an exuberant vegetation and fauna.
It
is considered as the biggest reservation in natural resources of the
Earth (included the amazon territory of Brazil), besides being the first
generating source of oxygen of the planet. Also as natural resources
exist big locations of petroleum, natural gas and gold laundries.
In
the Peruvian Amazonia are registered:
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64
tribes and sub-tribes of human beings
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14,712 animal species (8,000 unique), 700 classes of butterflies, 282
of birds, 625 of bugs, 250 of reptiles, 2,000 of fish, unique mammals,
etc.
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20,000 or more botanical species, being found up to 100 species in 1
square/km.
There are many zoological and botanical species to discover and to
classify scientifically.
In
past times, the protection lack and appropriate legislation allowed the
free hunt of some species, taking them to the almost extinction, as the
black lizard, the river wolf (otter) and some felines, for its valuable
skin. Nowadays protection laws exist to the fauna and flora and
protection areas have been created in parks and national reservations.
In
the whole Amazonia prevails the fluvial and air transport; the
terrestrial transport is nonexistent in the area of the low forest,
since highways do not exist.
Amazonas River - Cruises
The
mightiest river in the world, and the second in length. Born in the
Peruvian Andes (mountains) in
Arequipa,
and after traveling 6,500 km. (4,039 miles) it ends in the Atlantic;
3,163 km. (1,965 miles) of its run belongs to Brazilian territory.
It
has an average width of 4 km. (2.48 miles) among its banks. It embraces
the biggest river basin in the planet with 7'050,000 square/km and
receives the waters of more than 1,100 flowing rivers.
During the highest season its flow arrives up to 300 thousand cubic
meters per second and during the lowest season it descends down to 80
thousand cubic meters per second. In some points, the river reaches up
to 8 kms. (4.97 miles) width among banks, and also had registered up to
250 m. (820.2 feet) depth.
The
Amazonas River itself is born in Nauta, in the department of Loreto, in
the basin of the rivers Ucayali and Marañón. It is navigable for ships
of high border, in free and international way.
The
Spanish Conqueror Gonzalo Pizarro commanded an expedition for the search
of the mythical "País
de la Canela"
(Country of the Cinnamon) in which would be found fabulous treasures,
and like part of this expedition in 1542 Francisco of Orellana
discovered the Amazonas River. Orellana said to have seen and fought
with beautiful women that appear from its margins, that is the reason to
have this name. Called "Apu Paro" by the aboriginals.
Cruises by the Amazonas River
You
will also be able to enjoy attractive cruises by the Amazonas River; the
voyage can last an average of 6 to 7 days. Leaving from Iquitos a stop
is made in Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil) and then return to
Iquitos. During the voyage, visits are made to some towns and native
communities, and they are carried out hikes by the jungle, night
expeditions and fishing sessions.
Medium ships offer dinner service and rooms with air conditioned system.
Iquitos is an ideal place for lovers of the ecological
tourism, and for the ones who want to feel an intimate contact with the
virgin nature of the amazon forests. From the city you will be able to
go to lodges into the jungle, and for the most adventurous and fearless
you can arrive to parks and natural reservations, full and plethoric
with exuberant flora and fauna, with many undiscovered places, and many
alive species unknown by science.
Iquitos is the capital of the department of
Loreto, located in the
middle of the Peruvian forest, less than 4° south of Ecuador, and next
to the left river bank of the Amazonas River.
Iquitos was a village inhabited by the wild tribe called the "Iquitos"
from whom the name was taken in the moment of its foundation in 1864.
During the Spanish Colony and the gold fever caused by the legends of "El
Dorado" (The Golden) and the "País
de la Canela" (Country of the Cinnamon), Iquitos never
had historical figuration. In 1883 began in this city the era and peak
of the rubber, the exploitation of their latex and trade made that some
reached immense fortunes, it brought the prosperity of the city and the
construction of splendid houses began, some with tiles brought from
Portugal.
In
those days, Iquitos had better communications, with Europe, through the
Amazonas River, better than with the city of Lima. Part of the
characteristic of this time was the acquisition of a house built by G.
Eiffel in Paris and today located in the Main Square of Iquitos. The end
of the era of the rubber arrived in 1912.
From
then on, Iquitos has always been the main fluvial mean and principal
amazon port of Peru; its economic activity has been centered in the
commercialization of its natural resources and lately the exploitation
of petroleum.
Near
the city of Iquitos exists a zoological park of the amazon fauna, spas
and resorts in "cochas" (lagoons). Almost in the same city you will be
able to visit "Belen", the Peruvian Venice, or go for a walk by the pier
and observe the mightiest river in the world, the Amazonas River.
The
population of Iquitos in its great majority are natural descendants of
regional wild tribes and of the miscegeneration. The people´s temper is
very noble and cheerful, lover of the amusement. Iquitos is also famed
by the quantity of men that arrived to the city and lost their
bachelorhood, because of the affection that women in this region give to
the visitors. The population has many myths and legends, some occult;
there is a great diffusion of the folkloric medicine and the faith to be
cured with those medicines based on the great quantity of medicinal
plants that exist.
In
the city you will be able to find crafts of the wild tribes, as well as
enjoy an excellent cuisine and typical drinks and beverages.
The
typical public transportation in the city is the "mototaxi" or
"motocar", it is a motorized tricycle used for passenger transportation
with a very economic rate. There are also taxies in conventional cars
that generally don't have airconditioning. In the city you can rent a
motorcycle or an automobile.
Visiting Iquitos
Ecological Tourism:
The amazon forest is the natural reserve of more extensive and more
variety life of the Earth. Abundant botanical and zoological species, in
lustful landscapes in those in which you can go and be lodge for some
time, or in the Parks and Natural Reservations. Or if you prefer a
cruise by the Amazonas River, or a simple ride in a boat.
The
city:
The city has as axis of its social and economic life in the Main Square,
and around it, famous houses of the era of the rubber. The Main Square
is very near the riverside called Tarapacá, its commercial center in the
Próspero Street, and the traditional neighborhood of Belén with its
floating houses on the river.
Municipal Museum:
Located in the Távara Street block 2, small and modest museum with
handmade works of the natives, ethnographic and with regional fauna.
Surrounding areas of the city:
You will be able to visit the tourist complex of "Quistococha" for a
first encounter with the regional fauna and flora and Santo Tomás a
picturesque neighborhood.
For all
those that want to escape for a moment of the concrete forests, infernal
noises and pollution of the big cities, wanting to have a close
encounter with paradisiacal places in the virgin jungle of the Amazonas,
without any other noise than the one the birds, monkeys or insects make,
Iquitos is a great opportunity and an excellent selection.
Ecological tourism. Iquitos
Iquitos is a
great opportunity and an excellent selection for all those that want to
escape for a moment of the concrete forests, infernal noises and
pollution of the big cities. It is also special for those that want to
have a close encounter with paradisiacal places in the virgin jungle of
the Amazon, without any other noise than the ones made by the birds,
monkeys or insects.
From its
strategic location at north of the jungle, next to the Amazon River, in
an area which many rivers converge (Itaya, Nanay, Morona, Napo, etc.)
you can arrive to Iquitos and go everywhere you desire by these rivers
and stay in lodgings.
From these points
you will be able to carry out hikes to the interior of the forest and
jungle or the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Take rides in canoes by
small rivers and channels. You also can be in territories that have
changed, a little or nothing, in the last 10,000 years and enjoy the
magnificence of the jungle, knowing and sharing the same space with
thousands of animal and botanical species.
It is possible
that you can also visit native communities as part of the activities
that the lodgings prepare.
Close to Iquitos
are located numerous lodgings that have elaborated an excellent plan of
activities in the jungle. You also can find lodgings a little far away
from the city. These lodgings are usually located in the bank of a river
and they have bungalows and cottages that have all the comforts, and
others of more restricted services. Some of these places have
investigation laboratories, orchid nurseries and special places for the
observation.
Usually they
offer services of visits and guided walks to the jungle. They wait for
you at the airport from your arrival to Iquitos, and after your visit,
they return you to the airport.
Native comunities
In the immense territories of the department of Loreto,
exist populations of native and aboriginal communities that can be
visited. The great majority of these groups has been civilized by
Catholic missions and they maintain ingrained many of their ancestral
habits, such as their art, language, dances, feeding, etc.
These natives in general have great domain of the healing use of the
plants and herbs, and hallucinogenic beverages as the "ayahuasca".
Groups or tribes like the "Jíbaros" exist (formerly terrible reducers
of heads), the "Capanahuas", the "Boras", the "Yaguas",
the "Huitotos", the "Ocainas", the "Remiyacus", the "Mayorunas", the
"Cocamas", among others.
Each one of these groups usually keeps as domain area or influences a
territory that belongs to the basin of a certain river.
In the whole Peruvian jungle there are registered 64 tribes and sub
tribes of aboriginal.
The tourist operators usually offer a visit to an inhabited town of
these communities. |
