This is the isolated rain forest region in the eastern part of Peru, and
it takes almost 60% of the country. La Selva is the area between the
eastern foothills (the montaña) of the Andes and the enormous rain
forests of the Amazon basin, which extends further into Brazil. Most
people will think of Brazil when hearing the name Amazon. Indeed is
Brazil's part of the Amazon rain forest much bigger. However, the Amazon
river finds its roots in Peru, and most of the Peruvian Selva is still
unspoiled.
Actually, Peru has some of the best untouched rain forests anywhere in
the world. Although the Peruvian rain forest suffers from deforestation
as it does anywhere else, there is a lot of ecological awareness in the
country, and there are up to 24 national parks to protect this fragile
nature.
The root of the Amazon lies in the heart of the Peruvian Selva, at the
point where two other big rivers, the Marañon and the Ucayali, flow
together and form the Rio Amazonas. Another mighty river and important
source of the Amazon is the Urubamba. It flows from Peru's southern
Andes northwards through the montaña, where it joins the Ucayali. On its
way it passes magnificent sites like Machu Picchu and the Pongo de
Mainique. Coming from Lima, one of the easiest ways to enter the Selva
is the Chanchamayo Valley.
One of the biggest nature reserves in La Selva is Manu National Park.
Manu is called the most bio-diverse rain forest in the world. With 4.5
million acres, half the size of Switzerland, it is one of the best areas
for seeing wildlife anywhere. There are for instance over 1000 species
of bird, 300 more species than can be found in the USA and Canada
together.
La Selva is a region where only few people live. There are some small
cities, with the only exceptions the relatively big city Iquitos, in the
district of Loreto, and Pucallpa in the Ucayali district. Other cities
are Puerto Maldonado in the Madre de Dios district, Moyobamba and
Tarapoto in San Martin, San Ramon and La Merced, both in the Chanchamayo
Valley in Junin, Satipo and Tingo Maria, and Yurimaguas in the Loreto
district.
