Parana River Delta Fact Sheet

(Source:tripinargentina.com)

The Paraná River Delta spans three provinces located in eastern Argentina, Santa Fe, Entre Rios and Buenos Aires, and covers about 5,400 square miles. It is the only river delta in the world that does not empty directly into the ocean; instead it empties into the Rio de la Plata near Buenos Aires. The Paraná River Delta is about 200 miles long and has a variable width of 11 miles at its most narrow point, and a width of 37 miles at its widest point. The Delta is also composed of hundreds of small islands that are home to native flora and fauna, as well as human populations and domesticated animals.

Ciervo de los Pantanos (Source: Manuco Mercante)

The Paraná River Delta is unique in that it covers several different ecological zones including a subtropical zone, grasslands, as well as semi-arid forests. Thanks to these diverse types of land cover, the Delta supports a wide variety of plant and animal species. For example, in the upper Paraná River Delta trees such as the Sauce Criollo, and Ceibo can be found, while in the lower delta more subtropical species such as the Ingá and Canelón can be found. Not surprisingly, it is estimated that the Delta is home to over 223 species of fish, including the popular Dorado, Pacu, and Surubí. Various bird species can also be found in the Paraná River Delta, such as the Pava de Monte and Cardenal Azul. In addition, many mammals depend on the Delta as well, like river otters, and the Ciervo de los Pantanos  (Marsh Deer).

Cardenal Azul(Source: taringa.net)

A large human population also depends on the Paraná River Delta for their livelihoods. In 2001, it was estimated that over 3.4 million people live within the limits of the Delta. Furthermore, the Delta is heavily utilized by the agricultural and forestry industries. Finally, the Delta is a popular tourist destination for the population of Buenos Aires, and other large urban areas in the region.

(Sources: Todo Argentina, Geografía; The cities of Diamante and Coronda)