|
The Gran Chaco of South America
The Gran Chaco is a vast region
extending through Western Paraguay, Eastern Bolivia and Northeastern
Argentina. Its boundaries
include the Mato Grosso plateau on the north, the Andean foothills on the west,
the Paraguay and Paraná
rivers on the east, and the Salado
River Basin on the
south. This markedly seasonal region is
typically characterized by a patchwork of savannah grasslands and semi-arid
forest, with gallery forests along rivers and creeks. Rainfall is highest in the east and decreases
markedly to the west. The low degree of
topographical decline leads to the formation of extensive wetlands, which
generally dry out during the dry season (winter and spring) and become
over-flooded with the summer rains.
Summer temperatures reach over 40º C, with considerable daily variation
increasing towards the west. There are
occasional frosts during the dry season (June-July). |