EXTENSION
Covering approximately 12'000,000 H., the major area of the
Ecuadorian Amazon supports exuberant vegetation that is typical of humid
tropical forests, its western limit is the Andes Mountain Range, Peru
lies to the south and Colombia to the north.
FLORA
The principal attraction of the hilly forest is, of course, the
trees, some soaring higher than 46 m. Common species are cinnamon,
silkcotton, jacaranda and several leguminous trees. The alluvial plains,
located on the terraces of the principal rives, support great
concentrations of palm trees.
NAPO RIVER
The principal Amazon artery for visitors is the Napo River, a
major tributary of the main Amazon River. Its basin is 1400 Km. long and
one to three miles wide. As a result of fluvial dynamics, the Napo's
130 islands are covered by young forests, which provide refuge and
nesting sites for a multitude of bird species, many of them migratory.
COMMUNITIES
Along the length of the Napo, natives and settlers have
established communities, intersperced occasionally with small hotels and
lodges. Most of the shore is covered with tropical forest, and over
thousands of years, riverbeds have formed many attractive lakes.
Historically, the indigenous communities have been able to maintain a productive subsistence within the existing ecosystems of vast forest preserve. The most representative are: the Siona Secoya, Cofan, Huaorani, Quichua, Shuar and Ashuar.
ECOSYSTEM
The Amazonas ecosystem, particularly its tropical rain forest, is
considered to be one of the richest and most complex communities of
plant and animal life in the world. The region is characterized by huge
and diverse amounts of flora and fauna with extraordinary variations in
their habitats and micro habitats.
In the jungles of the Upper Amazon 100 species of trees per acre habe been recorded. In Central America, only up to 40 species per acre have been discovered. In the temperate forests of North America and Europa, rarely more than 20 different species exist per acre.
The Amazon's rivers, lakes, streams and marshlands support over 600 species of fish and more than 250 species of amphibians and reptiles. The lagoons of the Napo and Aguarico River basins are home to colonies of two species of caymans that grow to over 13 feet in length.
MAMMALS
Typical South American mammals which live in Ecuador's Amazon
include armadillos, honey bears and sloths. Amazon bats form a
cosmopolitan group numbering more than 60 species. Other mammals found
in the tropical forest include tapirs, monkeys, and ocelots (or
jaguars). On a walk through the forest, you will observe groups of
monkeys, boars and large rodents; and in the lagoons there are manatees
and caymans.
BIRDS
Birds are the richest group of Amazon vertebrates, and
approximately 1.000 species live in a variety of forest habitats,
lagoons and open areas. In all Amazon ecosystems, colorful birds make
themselves at home. Familiar sightings will be parrots, macaws and
tanagers on land and on water, darters, herons and gulls flourish.
CONSERVATION
Ecuador's extensive national park system, scientific station and
protected areas cover nearly a 7.5 million acres. To preserve areas,
Ecuador has created the Yasuni National Park Biosphere Reserve8, the
Limoncocha Ecological Reserve9, the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve10 and
others. The Napo and Aguarico River basins offer multiple possibilities
for you to enjoy the ecosystem complexes, alluvial plains, swamps and
flooded areas all of which are inhabited by a variety of species. The
Yuturi, Yasuni, Tiputini, Tivacuno and Cononaco rivers are completely
surrounded by virgin forest.