Piranha family of fish of the order karpoobraznyh. The body is laterally compressed fish has an average length of about 30 cm, 60 cm and reach the powerful jaw with sharp wedge-shaped teeth. Piranha fish are about 50 species in the waters of South America. Predatory fish shoals attack other fish, animals, and they are dangerous to humans. Herbivorous purified water from the vegetation. Small fish are bred piranhas in aquariums, and they are not so aggressive. What is so Piranhas deserve their fame? Razor-sharp teeth, voracious, ill-tempered. Many of the word “piranha” I remember with a shudder eerie footage of the horror film “Piranha.” Juveniles are silvery-blue color, with darker age, getting black. Despite the small size of piranha fish gluttonous when her jaws are closed, sharp teeth are adjacent to each other, as-built castle of the fingers. And could easily have a snack or finger stick.

The shepherds, driving a herd through the rivers that are home to piranhas, give one of the animals to be eaten by piranhas. Thus, diverting them from the herd, and as passionate about piranhas victim, melted in a different place to the other side. Wild animals are not as smart as people, and in order to cross the river or drink the water in the area that are found predatory fish piranhas. Begin to splash water or noise to attract piranhas. And when the pack piranhas appear on the noise, the animals go on shore in a safe place, and there are already moving to the other side of the shore or drink water. Piranha with his ill-tempered bad coexist, often attacking each other. They attack on anyone who enters their territory, be it fish or other animals and people.

Even the alligator avoids meetings with them. The worst fish is, of course, white shark, but not less fear suggest stories about the little fish – piranhas. Many legends are told that a pack of piranhas can only half an hour to destroy a large animal. Only a drop of blood hit the water turns into piranha mad demon, rush to everything that comes his way. The very name of ‘Piranha’ strikes fear. “Piranha” is translated from the language of South American Indians – “toothed demon.” Jaw muscles in piranhas are developed so that the piranha “cuts” the smallest piece, and it does not produce tears, and cuts like a surgeon with a scalpel into small pieces. Piranha can even bite through steel, they are particularly dangerous during the spawning season, when the pair first and then the male protects the clutch of eggs.

Despite all the horrors induced by this kind of fish they are caring parents and protect your home from intruders. Most of the common species of piranhas is – red piranha. It lives in fresh waters of South America, and in all the basins of La Plata, the Orinoco and Amazon. It can also be found in the eastern foothills of the Andes of Colombia and, in all the Amazon basin in Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Peru to the north-east Argentina. More actively engaged in a young individual, often gather in flocks and are in constant search of food. Adults also have a settled way, hiding in the weeds and do not chase the prey, and waiting for her in the shelter.

Kaieteur Falls is not the highest in the world, its width is inferior to the waterfalls of the Big Three, but it is the most powerful and strong stage in the world. Tons of water falling from a cliff into the abyss, shrouded in mist and rainbow pierced, and for tens of kilometers around the stretch impassable wild jungle. This waterfall is worth it to see him. Suffice it to say that the Kaieteur five times higher than the famous Niagara Falls.

Is this wonder of nature in Guyana – the only country on the South American continent, the official language of which – English. Waterfall – the most popular tourist attraction in the country, the existence of which even few people realize. Kaieteur – one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world and especially in combination of a large volume of water and the height of its fall – 226 meters. No other waterfall can not boast of such characteristics.

Kaieteur is surrounded by tropical forests, which are not touched by the hand of man, which is long gone alongside the more popular and large waterfalls. No crowds here and continuously taking pictures. By visiting this site, the man is alone with nature.

Energy of water falls is so strong that it forms a permanent hurricane at its foot. In the pond at the foot of the wave never fade, and the weather is very windy and cloudy, but it is necessary to move a few meters, as the wind dies down and starts to shine brightly the sun. And it’s not the only unusual terrain. It is here, just below the falling water was first discovered a new mineral – Potaro. This is very rare mineral is an alloy of palladium and mercury.
In 1926, around the waterfall was created Kaieteur National Park, which became the oldest national park in the Caribbean and South America. Having been here you can see rare plants and endangered animals.
Getting to the park can be either on foot or by starting the path from the surrounding area of the city of Mahdia, so comfortably and on the plane. Difficult trek on foot takes three days, but can be a real adventure, memorable for a lifetime. Near the waterfall there is a small convenient airstrip, but not far from it – guest house, where you can spend the night.
Best time to visit Gayany and Kaieteur – immediately after the end of the rainy season, a dangerous characteristic of this climate. In Guyana, the prolonged rainy season and falls to the time from April to August, and then, after a short break – from November to October. But it was after this season, you can assess the full extent of the power and beauty of this extraordinary imagination and endearing place.

Beautiful tropical flower – an orchid. Homeland him are just the tropics of Asia, America and Africa.
Those who once saw an orchid flowers will be permanently conquered their unforgettable beauty.
In our latitudes, orchids are especially strange and select the color and because they remind of warm countries, and because they bloom in winter.

And most importantly, because the orchid are kept for 2-3 months. Even the orchid cut flowers can stand in water for about a month.

From the history of orchids.
Orchid was known in ancient China and ancient Greece. The name they gave the Greek Theophrastus. The word “orhis” in Greek means “testicles” and hints at a pair of thick root tubers of orchids, the orchid family. But later the name was already transferred to the whole family as a whole.
In ancient legends attributed to orchids property increase potency.
The first tropical orchid, which was brought from the Bahamas, was grown in Europe only in 1731. But only after many years, began a hunt for these strange plants.
Initially, the flowers orchids were used as packing material for other tropical plants, transported to Europe.
But one day, William Catley, gardener, interested in the amazing pieces of plant and planted in a pot pieces of “packaging”.
Grew up firs

t orchid – a plant with an unusually large and lush colors. This variety is known as Cattleya, in honor of the man who discovered it Europe.
With this began a pilgrimage to the orchids, tropical countries for new varieties of orchids. It was discovered many new varieties of flowers orchids. Prices were cosmic. There is evidence that some of the cost was more than ten thousand German marks.

It took a while before growers can learn how to propagate orhidei.I only hunt for them has ceased.
Now known species of wild orchids 30,000 and about 150,000 hybrids. But despite this, and today continues to be new types of wild flowers orchids.
Guyana – a country with a surprisingly suitable climate for growing orchids.
A huge number of species of orchid found in the wild jungle.
Most of these so-called epiphytes. That is, they settle on other plants. Orchids are not parasites, they feed on plant juices, homes do not take them any nutrients or water. They just settle on the canopy to get more light in the dense tropical forest.

They feed on orchids with special roots of tropical moist air, and a thin layer of soil accumulated on the branches, small houses.
Besides epiphytes, orchids are growing roots in the ground. They are called terrestrial orchids or soil.
Just a smal

l group of orchid flowers vybiraetdlya settlement rocks and stones. They are called lithophytes.
To grow orchids at home, you need to consider lifestyle inherent to the selected species.
Particularly favorable conditions for flower growing orchids is in Guyana. This is their natural humid tropical climate and sun.
Growing Orchids in Guyana is very popular and does not require such herculean efforts in European countries.

In South America, a lot of soil and vegetation zones. This is due to the situation between the mainland subequatorial belt of the northern hemisphere and southern hemisphere temperate POS, as well as abnormal development of the continent.
Much of the continent, together with Central America and Mexico, forms the “Neotropical floristic kingdom.” Southern part of the same part of the “Antarctic kingdom.”
To groups of plants in South America and Africa have common views, which explains the connection of the continents during development.
Flora of the eastern part of the continent, that is, including Guyana, far more ancient flora of the Andes.
For the vegetation characteristic of Guyana rainforest areas, which has no equal in the world nor the size nor the wealth of species. The largest array of primary forest in the Guiana Highlands there.
Forest area rises to a height of 1,500 meters above sea level.
But the soil in Guyana is very poor. In hot and humid climate all products immediately decline decomposed and consumed by plants, no time to accumulate.
For agriculture, you need to make large amounts of fertilizer.
All our attempts to cultivate the land in Guyana Russian tomatoes, or even just petrushechku failed. Something arises, of course, but it chahlenkoe and lean. Ukropchik simply just lay down and then just drifted along the ground.
The number of plant species in Guyana, is enormous. Forests occupy the upper tiers of palm trees, and various legumes.
In a tropical forest, there is a chocolate tree with flowers and fruits, sitting directly on the trunk.
Here, home of rubber Hevea, papaya, cacao.
In the forests of South America there are a symbiosis of some trees and ants, for example tsekropii.
Particularly diverse in the forests of Guyana, lianas and epiphytes. Among them bromelivye, fern and its variety of stunning brightness and orchids.
Over the jungle, in the savannah along the coast are now plantations. The country is largely agricultural, and primary production in it is sugar cane, rum Guyanese “Eldorado”.
The slopes of the sandstone plateau, as well as the area occupied by dry Rupununi savannas.
In the forests of the interior of Guyana, grows a lot of valuable trees, which are used in the manufacture of furniture often stunning beauty of handmade, and building materials.

In the Andes, the birds are endemic mountain species of the same families and genera, as in the east of the continent. Of prey species is the most interesting Condor – is the largest of the representative of this order.
Has its own flavor and fauna of Galapagos volcanic islands are mainly composed occupy the main place – giant land tortoises and iguanas (marine lizards). Many different species of birds and tropical representatives of the Antarctic avifauna: penguins, parrots and cormorants. In the few species of mammals are composed of such as seals, bats and some rodents. Exported to the islands of domestic animals (pigs, dogs, goats) are wild. The destruction of habitats for many species their numbers reduced. Today in South America, 269 species of birds are on the verge of extinction.
Total birds in South America there are about three thousand species, which is the fourth part of the world’s avifauna. 93 families and 23 companies, and many families are endemic (found only in South America). Birds endemic to South America are not found anywhere else the world, groups: Tinamuobraznyh – family, which includes 42 species. Not large birds in appearance resemble partridges live in different landscapes of Patagonia to Mexico. The peculiarity of this order is that of eggs and breeding, the offspring is engaged in driving male tinamous. There are, of course, exceptions, types, where the young and educated male and female. Ciconiiformes – Chelnoklyuvy, geese – a family of screamers – large birds, endemic to South America, live in the territory from Venezuela to Argentina, the three species. Can neither dive nor swim suit their nests on dry stems in thickets along rivers or swamps. A family of ducks, including the Magellanic goose. Birds of prey – vultures of the New World, distributed only in North and South America. Goatsinovye – This unit was referred to the chicken detachment, and, more recently referred to kukushkoobraznym. Goatsin representative birds of South America endemic and has only one species lives in the woods. Chicks, sensing danger, dive, jump into the water, the adults of the same individual can not. Zhuravleobraznye include trumpeters family, endemic to forests of South America. Solar heron is the only species endemic to the family, found in the forest-steppe and dry steppe. Psittaciformes – endemic in the detachment of the 25 genera of parrots and 111 species. Kozodoeobraznye – two giant nightjar family guaharo. Night and crepuscular birds hunt for flying insects. Guaharo – a large bird that nests in colonies in caves on the northern coast of South America. Raksheobraznye family Momotov 6 genera with 8 species. Nebolshin birds live mainly in forests, but also to arrange their nests in holes in the ravines and along streams. Woodpeckers, family Yakamary – small bird with a bright color. They live in the scrub, forests, feed on insects. Lenivki puffs and 10 genera with 30 species, small, not bright colors. Pertseyady and toucans – 6 genera with 37 species.

Kaieteur Falls is not the highest in the world, its width is inferior to the waterfalls of the Big Three, but it is the most powerful and strong stage in the world. Tons of water falling from a cliff into the abyss, shrouded in mist and rainbow pierced, and for tens of kilometers around the stretch impassable wild jungle. This waterfall is worth it to see him. Suffice it to say that the Kaieteur five times higher than the famous Niagara Falls.

Fish Arapayma – suborder kosteyazychnyh, one of the major fish species inhabit fresh water, some specimens weighing over 200 kg and up to three meters in length. This is one of the commercial fish species in South America, often goes fishing nets, so the giant arapaym not found in the wild waters. And in some areas and completely disabled her capture. It feeds mainly on fish, small animals and birds. Has a unique mechanism of adaptation – can breathe naturally and through the tissue, similar to the lung tissue that lines the bladder and throat. This breathing has evolved from the fact that the waters of the Amazon is little oxygen. That’s because fish arapaymy tolerate drought, picking up the air, buried in sand, mud bog, waiting for the tide. Breathing arapaymy very common when a large arapayma coming to the surface, appears at first swirl, and then out of the water there is fish head with open mouth. With characteristic clicking sounds deflates, swallows fresh air and disappears into the depths. Adult fish occur every 15 minutes on the water surface, the young more often.

Giant arapayma – little-the world’s largest fish. Early descriptions are taken from the stories of travel and some exaggerated. The authors, who also specifically investigated this kind of fish, according to some very interesting data on the behavior and biology of fishes arapayma. Strange, then, that arapaymu caught without limitation in the Brazilian and Peruvian units in the ducts of the Amazon. But no one tried to study its behavior and the preservation of this species, until it was much reduced in number.

Giant fish lived in a pond in Brazil with the hope that they take root. There are some areas of rivers and lakes in eastern Peru, where the reserve funds are catching arapaymy is only with the permission of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Adults have arapaymy colorful painting: on the back of the color changes from blue-black to metallic green, tail and sides of the silver-gray, the belly – from cream to greenish-white. Huge flakes of shimmer in shades of red.
Young fish feed on shrimp and has grown to become another food, mainly fish, crustaceans bottom.

The sources of past data on the size arapaymy greatly exaggerated, for example, in describing R.Shom-Burke in his book “Fishes of British Guiana,” there is evidence that arapayma reaches a length of 14 feet (ft – 0.305 m) and weight about 400 pounds (lb – 0, 454 kg). And this information is not obtained at first hand and also not confirmed. In fact, this species reaches the length of 7 feet and weighs about 300 pounds. Habitat arapaymy probably depends on the plant environment than from the water. For this type of fish needed rugged coast with a fairly wide band of plants floating near the shore, forming floating meadows. Therefore arapayma lives primarily in the backwaters, where in addition to the floating meadows and floating plants (mimosas and ferns, hyacinth, etc.). Due to its color is invisible giant fish among plants.

The most favorable habitat for arapaym in South America is the Rio Park. Here the fish reaches maturity in 5 years and reach about 6 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds. Presumably the adult fish arapaymy breed twice a year.

The wettest continent on the planet is South America. This feature of the climate can be explained by a whole set of factors affecting the climate. In the northern part of the mainland crossed the equator, the trade winds converge to it in both hemispheres. Winds from the cortex come from the Atlantic Ocean, bringing warm air. Due to the lack of any orographic barriers moist air easily penetrates deep into the mainland, bringing moisture. In the foothills of the Andes, the maximum amount of precipitation falls each year. The annual rainfall in most parts of the continent at least 1000 mm. In different climatic zones of different rainfall patterns. During the year, they fall uniformly in the equatorial, and their maximum occurs in the summer. In the humid tropical climate there is a uniform mode of precipitation.

West Coast in the southern Peruvian tropics washed over, which is cool. Cold water affects the adjacent air layer, as a result of this air is not able to climb up. Totally there are no conditions for the condensation of water vapor and cloud formation. The result is the fact that the coast for a year may receive less than 100 mm of rainfall, and most of them falls in the form of dew.

The extreme south of the mainland located in a temperate climate. The main process of circulation in these latitudes are westerly winds from the Pacific. Ocean mountains do not allow moist air to penetrate deep into the mainland. The result is that on the windward slopes of the Andes in the south of precipitation falling as much as in the equatorial zone. Of course, the climate of these places is quite complicated, so forecasters need an incredible amount of knowledge to predict the weather, but, for example, to predict the weather in Chelyabinsk, a lot easier.