Amazon: The Flooded Forest

The Amazonian rainforest is our planet's most diverse and mysterious ecosystem. Vast expanses of it are invaded by rivers and it is this phenomenon that has led to the development of the Amazon's most peculiar feature —its flooded forests. For five or six months every year much of the rainforest stands in over 10 metres of water, yet it retains its green exuberance. Many of the Amazon's strangest creatures live in the flooded forest: large fish with horse-like teeth; birds whose chicks have wing-claws so that they can hang from branches; and dolphins that find their way through the trees using a sophisticated system of echo-location. Amazon: The Flooded Forest is a marvellous exploration of Amazonian rivers and their flooded forests and it accompanies the BBC television series of the same name. It is a timely celebration of the beauty, diversity and complexity of this fascinating area by a naturalist who has lived in the Amazonian rainforest for more than 12 years.