What is Pantanal?
[[Image:Pantanal 55.76W 15.40S.jpg|thumb|200px|The location of the Pantanal in South America is highlighted. Most of it lies in Brazil, but parts of it are also in Bolivia and Paraguay.]] The '''Pantanal''' is the [[world]]'s largest [[wetland]] or [[swamp]].<ref name = ramsar>{{cite web|url = http://www.ramsar.org/wwd/7/wwd2007_rpts_germany_gnf.htm|title = Pantanal in South America declared ”Threatened Lake of the Year 2007“|publisher = Ramsar Convention Secretariat|date = February 2007|accessdate = 2008-10-24}}</ref> It covers a region of 140,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, larger than the area covered by the country [[Greece]].<ref name = ramsar/> The Pantanal is in [[South America]] and shared by [[Brazil]], [[Bolivia]] and [[Paraguay]].<ref name = ramsar/> There are many threats to the Pantanal such as [[pollution]], [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] from [[gold]] [[mining]] and [[ranching]]. Although the Pantanal can wash some of the [[chemical]]s away, the increased amount is becoming a concern. In [[winter]] nearly 80% of the area is [[flood]]ed.<ref name = wwf>{{cite web|url = http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/nt/nt0907_full.html|title = Pantanal (NT0907)|work = Ecoregion profile: Neotropical > Flooded Grasslands and Savannas |publisher = Worl Wildlife Fund|first = Tim|last = Male|date = 2001|accessdate = 2008-10-24}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{Brazil topics}} [[Category:Geography of Bolivia]] [[Category:Geography of Brazil]] [[Category:Biosphere reserves]] [[Category:Wetlands]] [[Category:Ecoregions]] [[Category:Geography of Paraguay]]