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To the lone guard
of the Amazon rainforest:
"Pico da Neblina" (2994 m NN)
Brazils highest mountain
is located in the Imari Massiv of the
federal state of Amazonas. Bordering with
Venezuela on its northern slope, it is
part of the (22.000 km2)
huge Parque Nacional do Pico da Neblina.
During this expedition the participants
will make the experience of their life,
when they encounter the untouched and
untamed tropical rainforest, its enormous
spectrum of species and its complex form
of life and interactions in flora and
fauna. The natural attractions include
the flooded rainforest of the lowlands,
the Area forest with its fertile grounds,
the terre-firme with its enormous biodiversity,
(215 species of hard-wood trees alone)
to the nebular forest at the Pico da Neblina
where the richness of epiphytes, orchids
and bromeliads, is just breathtaking,
thus compensating the traveller for the
strenuous trail up to the "Pico".
Starting point of
the expedition is the town of São
Gabriel da Cachoeira (SGC), a military
settlement and Salesian mission, right
at the banks of the upper Rio Negro River.
SGC is within reach by boat or plane (turboprop)
from Manaus. Some 85km of tricky dirt
and mud road leads to the pier of the
Ia-mirim River and requires 4wheel drive
and a top driver. Three days on the Ia
and Cauaburi rivers are needed to get
to the mouth of the Tucano River, from
where the expedition continues on foot.
The Pico da Neblina peak can be reached
after another four days
(64 km).
The target region
is a totally isolated area with difficult
access. The non existence of human activities
such as agriculture, stock farming, timber,
mining, etc. except subsistence activities
of the yanomami tribes, guarantees untouched
nature and an undamaged ecosystem. Provided
that FUNAI permission will be granted,
the group will visit the yanomami settlement
in Maturacá. According to the group's
special interest, a stay of several days
in Maturacá can eventually be arranged.
Some of the
animals and plants which can be observed
in the region:
- Birds
several kind of toucans, aracaris, scarlet
macaws, green winged macaws, blue and
yellow macaws, blue fronted amazons,
a great number of colourful tanagers,
kingfishers, guans, curassows
- Spiders
such as the non poisonous Theraposa
leblondi,
the biggest spider of the world, with
a lifespan of up to 20 years, the very
poisonous Loxoceles,
Phoneutria
and Lycosas,
Latraodectus
mactans
(black widow)
- Mammals
tapir, capybara, giant otter, paca,
brown and black howler monkey, black
uacari, spider monkey, dusky titi monkey,
brown capuchin monkey, spider monkey,
sloth
- Fish,
amphibians, snakes
river dolphins, piracuru, piranha, caiman,
several kind of poisonous frogs and
snakes, leguans, turtles
- Butterflies:
Papillion, Heliconius, morphs
- Orchids,
bromeliads, trees
Aechmea
aquilega,
Scuticarias,
Coriantes,
Cataseto,
carnivorous such as hellianphora
tatei,
brachinnia,
drosera,
utricularias
and the only a few years ago found Heliamphora
hispida spec.nov, caoutschouc
trees Hevea
brasiliensis,
Brazil-nut trees, Bertholletia
excelsia,
Assaí and Buriti palms
and many, many,
more...
Ask for
details at:
southerncross@uol.com.br
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