The Apotheosis of Diversity. 

The Yasuni National Park is the largest protected area in continental Ecuador. Those visiting the Park will find an astonishing biodiversity, with various world records in richness of flora and fauna. The windind rivers draining in the park join with great Napo River, the most important Amazon tributary beginning in Ecuador . Among these, the Tiputini, Nashiño, Yasuni, Tivacuno, Tiguino, and Cononaco stand out. 

Not all YNP riversare equal. depending on the substrate where they originate, they can be white water or black water rivers. The first are born  in the Andes, and carry sediments which provide the characteristic brownish color. One example is the Curaray River , the southern limit of the park. On the other hand , the black water rivers and lagoons are born in the forest itself. Their dark, glistening, tea-like tone is due to tannins, pigments that rain washes from the forest little layer.

Because of the rainfall regime in the Amazon, the river level varies a great deal during the year. Between March and November, the rivers  overflow their banks and turn extensive areas into swamps. The ecosystem that exists depends on the type of river that floods  an area: varzea if it is a white-water river, and igapó if it is a black-water river. The high areas that are not flooded are known as terra firme forest.

Yasuni National Park.

The Yasuni was created in november 1979. Extension: 982 000 000 hectares, (2 300 thosusand acres). Ecosystems: Tropical rain forest, flooded forest, swamps, rivers, lagoons.

Given the extension and continuty of its forest, there are many species living in the Yasuni that have disappeared in disturbed areas. The powerful jaguars wander about the vegetation, while the fabulous harpy eagle soars above looking for its next meal of a spider monkey, giant armadillos, giant anteaters, tapirs, titi monkeys. The selection of mammals is stupendous. As for birds species: 5 different macaws, six owls, seven toucans, two dozen hummingbirds, more than fifty antbirds. The enumeration of animals in the Yasuni would be endless: the rainbow boa and the anaconda, the pink river dolphin and the Amazonian manatee, the giant paiche fish, and endless variety of fish and insects.

Remember that seeing the Amazon´s fauna is not easy. Animals have developed a refined ability tohide. thus, to discover these animals, you need to move softly and have a lot of patience and concentration, plus a good local guide

Some remarkable Birds: 

Rufescent Tiger Heron, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Red-bellied Macaw, Dusky-headed Parakeet, Cobal-winged Parakeet, Black-headed Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Orange-winged Parrot, Mealy Parrot, Greater Ani, Tawny-bellied Screech Owl, Crested Owl, Great-billed Hermit, Green-backed Trogon, White-eared Jacamar, Brown Jacamar, Yellow-billed Jacamar, White-chinned Jacamar; White-necked Puffbird, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Black and White-fronted Nunbirds, Gilded and Scarlet Barbets, Lemon-throated barbet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Many-banded Aracari, Lettered, Ivory-billed, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, Chestnut Woodpecker, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Crimsom-crested Woodpecker, Barred Woodcreeper, Buff-throated Woodpecker.