The Greatest “Amazon River” is Home to Several Extremes

Amazon River is the greatest river of South America and the largest drainage system in the world in terms of the volume of its flow and the area of its basin. Amazon River is at approximately 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) equivalent of the distance from New York City to Rome. Amazon River is the 2^nd longest river in the world, just slightly shorter than the River Nile, but the largest river by volume. The length of the Amazon and the Nile Rivers has been in a tight battle for title of world's longest river. The precise length of the two rivers differs over time and reputable sources disagree as to their actual length.

The Amazon River has more than 3,000 recognized species of fish and more new species are still being discovered. The Amazon Basin is covered by half of the planet’s remaining rainforests. Therefore a tenth of the world’s projected 10 million living species live in the Amazon rainforest, jungle tours are more about the boating upriver into the damp, buzzing, oppressive ambience than actually spotting animals. Amazon River westernmost source is high in the Andes Mountains, within 160 kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, and its mouth is in the Atlantic Ocean, on the northeastern coast of Brazil.

As most of know, that Amazon River is located in South America.  And it runs through Guyana, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. During the rainy season, the Amazon River can stretch to over 190 kilometers (120 miles) in width. There’re no bridges that cross the Amazon, because there is no need of bridges as the majority of the Amazon River runs through rainforests rather than roads or cities. The largest city along the Amazon River is Manaus. Located in Brazil it is home to over 1.7 million people. The one of world’s largest snake Anacondas lurk in the shallow waters of the Amazon Basin, they’re occasionally attack larger animals such as goats that get to close the water. The Amazon River is also home to the piranha, a meat eating type of fish! Being carnivores, piranhas are famous to attack in groups, preying on livestock that strays into the water and possibly appearing in one or two of your own nightmares!

The Amazon River is not only the greatest in the world but it is also home to several other "Extremes" A captured Arapaima: one of the largest freshwater fish species in the world of the natural world. Rapaima is locally famous as Pirarucu Arapaima gigas are one of largest, fresh water fish in the world. They’ve been found to reach a length of 15 ft/4m and can weigh up to 440lbs/200kg. Catfish normally found in warm & slow moving waters of lakes and streams are pretty creepy looking fish with big flat heads and "whiskers" on either side of their heads. Most catfish are anywhere from 8” in long to about 5 feet and weighing in at up to 60 pounds. But the catfish that lives in this part of world is as big as nature will allow they’ve been captured weighing over 200 pounds! One of the largest freshwater fish in the world is found living in the waters of the Amazon River.

Cool Factoid: Did you know that bull sharks have been found in the Amazon River? Researchers have captured live bull sharks as far as 2,300 miles inland from the sea thriving in freshwater in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. Amazon River drainage basin is the whole northern half of the continent of South America as a shallow dish or saucer. Whenever rain falls and lands anywhere in the river basin it all runs into the lowest place in the pan, which happens to be the Amazon River. The sheer volume of rain in the Amazon jungle and the slope of the surrounding land, combine to create the enormous river famous as the Amazon.

 Here's list of some species which can easily found at Amazon River. 

Violet-Fronted Brilliant

Tupi ‘red bird,’ also known as the scarlet ibis

Toucan

Tillandsia cyanea

The water lily (Victoria regia

Tapir

Striated Heron

Squirrel Monkey

Red-Bellied Piranhas

Piranha

Pink River Dolphins

Payara (Vampire Fish)

Palm Tanager in the Amazon

Masked Crimson Tanager

Pacu

Lily of the Amazon

Laguna

Godzilla.

Ginger Torch

Emerald Boa

Giant Otter

Electric Eels

Capped Heron

Alligators

Amazon Flower

Amazon Lily

Anaconda

Black Caiman

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Bull Sharks

Candiru

Capped Heron

The Mystical Blue Forest of Beligum

 The Hallerbos is a public forest in Belgium, mainly situated in the municipality of Halle, in Flemish Brabant. It is situated about 15 kilometers south of Brussels. You’d never imagine how the forest beautiful is? The forest is a lovely place for a stroll at any time of the year, but for limited weeks in spring, it is something really special. Hallerbos, also famous as The Blue Forest, is carpeted with a sea of blue flowers. The Common Bluebell is a spring-flowering bulbous perpetual plant with flowers shaped like tiny bells. They thrive under the beech trees of the Hallerbos in late April. If you’re a photographer then it is a perfect place for amazing photography. But photographing the Hallerbos can be challenging. First, you must get your timing right, and visit too early in the season, the bluebells will be sparse. If you get late, the flowers will be spent and the forest returned to typical woodland. As the season changes every year, depending on the weather, it can take several visits to the Hallerbos before you see the blue carpet it all its glory. 

The other challenge is the genuine fact that everyone wants to visit the Hallerbos at this time of year. Having tourists and other photographers in your photo can detract from the scene. The forest has other riches. In spring season it is full of birds blackcap warblers, wrens and nuthatches are the loudest. There’re red squirrels amongst the pines, buzzards in the clearings and tadpoles in the ponds. Halle's Wood was once part of the Sonian Forest, Europe's largest beech forest, stretching over the southern part of Brussels. In the First World War, the original Hallerbos was destroyed by the occupying forces, though some ancient oak and beech trees lasted the devastation and can still be seen these days. After the world war, in somewhere between the 1930s and 1950s, key replanting efforts took place reintroducing the native beech and oak trees. 

The wild bluebell hyacinths, though, are all natural and have been for centuries. Aside from bluebells, one can spot tiny wood sorrel, with its cup-shaped flowers and clover-like leaves, and the star-shaped white flowers of ramsons or wild garlic, which can be smelled before they can be seen. Therefore; the Hallerbos is a busy park at the best of times. There’re trails not only for walkers, but also for cycling and horseback riding as well. As with all outdoor camerawork, the best light occurs in Hallerbos early and late. With great patience you can accomplish lovely lighting filtering through the leaves of the trees. If you’re searching for macro images of the bluebells, you can take advantage of the fact that Belgium is often overcast for a nice even light. Whether you visit the Hallerbos with your camera or just you’re walking shoes, it is well worth a visit in the springtime to see this magical occasion.

Bluebell Forest - Hallerbos Belgium from Boris Godfroid on Vimeo.

Breathtaking Odle Dolomites Mountain Range of Italy

Dolomites Mountains are a magical place where days go by in peace, where you always view the brightness of the Pale Mountains. More than centuries a lot of words have been used to describe the beauty of these mountains, but of a thing I’m certain: the Dolomites Mountains are true natural heaven, a rich show of the environment with rocks, woods and pastures. 

It high in the Italian Alps, within the famous mountain range called the Dolomites, separating the Funes valley from the Gardena valley, sit the breathtaking Odle Mountains. Between all the mountains of the alpine chain, and the rest of the world, Dolomites are unique for their beauty and form. 

The breathtaking Dolomites were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in August 2009, and have been called some of the most good-looking mountain landscapes found anywhere in the world with its sheer cliffs, vertical walls and deep valleys. One writer descriptively called the mountains, "flames frozen in stone."

Strolling on the Dolomites is an exclusive experience in and of itself, as you get a 360-degree view of rocks that have been transformed over thousands of years. There’re a number of different trails, from the easy, well-graded paths to the more challenging ones. They provide to hikers of all abilities. Here’re some remarkable shots of the Odle mountain group taken by various photographers. Notice that spectacularly sheer cliff.