Delta
Dawn in the Paraná Delta
The world's only river delta that is in contact not with the sea but with another river, the Delta of the Paraná, is an extensive wetland that provides a vital ecosystem for a wide variety of plant and animal species, such as the marsh deer, pampas cat, and jaguar.
These wetlands also play an important role in the regional hydrology and water quality. The area is important to the regional economy as well because of extensive forest plantations of mainly willow and poplar trees, which thrive in the delta environment. Sustainable development of the delta region rests upon maintaining the biodiversity and overall health of the ecosystem, as well as long-term management of the forest industry.
The Lower Delta was the site of the first modern settlements in the Paraná-Plata basin and is today densely populated, being the agricultural and industrial core of Argentina and host to several major ports. The main course of the Paraná lies on the west of the delta, and is navigable downstream from Puerto General San Martín by ships up to the Panamax type.