Brazil
Jau National Park is the definitive wildlife reserve of the Amazon Jungle and River. The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon region sprawls across most of Northern Brazil and is the most diverse ecosystem in the Americas and possibly the world. It is home to a wide variety of species on both land and in its myriad waterways. Jau ranks among the world’s most difficult parks to visit, making it all the more rewarding for those who get there.
The Amazon Rainforest is among the most remote and densely grown-out places on Earth. Human habitation in the vicinity of the Jau River was minimal well into the 20th century. The government began to take a great interest in protecting the region after World War II, and in 1980 designated a large area around the Jau River as a national Park. In 2001 this was incorporated into the much larges Central Amazon Biosphere Reserve.
Jau hosts virtually all of the major species that can be found throughout the Amazon. The park is most memorable for its hundreds of species of birds and immense population of Spider Monkey and other primates. The big cats are here, including Jaguar and Puma. The parks rivers abound with Alligator and Tortoise. Amazon Manatee and Amazon River Dolphin are rare but popular inhabitants of the waterways.
Jau National Park covers 23,000 square km located deep in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest. Although less than 100 miles from the city of Manaus, there is no road access to the park. Visitors generally get there by boat. Access to Jau is heavily restricted, and visitors need permission to enter the park from the IBAMA headquarters in Manaus. As of this writing no other visitor information was available. Web: N/A.
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