The Paraná Delta
Home of Dos Ríos

How the Delta is formed:

The islands of the Paraná Delta owe their existence to the vast quantity of sediment that is washed down the Paraná and Uruguay rivers towards the River Plate. As the silt builds up colonizing plants (such as juncal, ceibos, and reeds) begin to grow and their roots help stabilize the earth, so that other plants also begin to grow and the land builds up. In this way the Delta is still expanding into the River Plate. The islands have a typical structure, which can be seen at Dos Ríos – namely the land on the river bank where the Delta is still forming itself, is slightly higher, and the land in the interior is lower, and marshy, sometimes with small lakes.

Flora:

The land is extremely fertile. Native trees like the Sauce Criollo and the Ceibo are particularly beautiful, and support native epiphytes and fauna as well. Many beautiful native flowers can also be found, such as the sweet-smelling papa del río. Unfortunately the same fertility makes it easy for non-native invasive plants to colonize the Delta as well. European flag irises are beautiful in spring, but invasive, and privet (with its gorgeous perfume) is to be found everywhere. Human beings have exploited the fertility of the Delta too, and it has long been an area of traditional orchards where the islanders have grown fruit trees, especially oranges, lemons and kumquats, to sell in Buenos Aires. Pecan plantations, as well as plantations of willows and poplars, are common.

Luckily the grasses that resist the periodic flooding of the Delta do not encourage cattle farming,at least in the first section of the Delta. Islanders have turned to fruit farming, and basket weaving instead. All kinds of wicker and rattan work and country furniture made in the Delta can be found in the markets and shops of Tigre.

The rivers are full of water hyacinth, water poppies and other water loving plants, shown in several of the photos on this site. Following storms, rafts of them can be seen floating down the Delta’s main rivers (such as the Paraná) on their way to the estuary of the River Plate.

Fauna:

Fauna
Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the Delta could boast several exotic creatures like jaguars (hence the name Tigre), and alligators. But these days you will be lucky to see a capybara, or nutria, although you will be able to see evidence of their presence at Dos Ríos. In the remoter parts of the Delta you can still very occasionally see Marsh Deer. But everywhere you will hear the frogs and birds. In Dos Ríos over sixty different species of bird have been recorded, and it is a real delight to watch a kingfisher fishing from your porch or to be woken up to the sound of guans marching over the tree tops to find their breakfast.

The Delta is very popular for human fishing as well as avian fishing, and many islanders and visitors can be seen drinking their maté with a rod and line hanging expectantly off the end of their docks.

For a fuller description of the Delta and Tigre,
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delta_del_Paraná