Gran Chaco, Plains and tropical lowlands in South America.
The Gran Chaco is an expansive lowland of dry forests, grasslands, and seasonal wetlands stretching across parts of Bolivia and Brazil. The landscape shifts between dusty plains dotted with low thorn scrub and broad riverbeds that carry water only part of the year.
European explorers first recorded observations of these plains in the 16th century as Spanish expeditions mapped the impenetrable terrain. Territorial boundaries were redrawn only after an armed conflict between Bolivia and Paraguay during the 1930s.
People in the region often speak Guaraní alongside Spanish and maintain craft traditions such as weaving karaguatá fibers. Many villages rely on beekeeping and timber work, following the rhythm of dry and wet seasons.
Traveling into this region requires preparation for extreme temperature swings between day and night as well as periods of heavy rain or prolonged drought. Roads are often unpaved and distances between settlements can mean several hours of driving.
Parts of this plain remain difficult to reach and form one of the least populated areas in South America. The region shelters the Chacoan peccary, a species long thought extinct before its rediscovery here.
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