Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, is on the bank of Rio De La Plata. At 220 kilometres (140 miles) wide, it is the widest river in the world! Many smaller rivers flow from the north into Rio De La Plata. One of those smaller rivers is called the Rio Paraná. Where the Rio Paraná meets Rio De La Plata, a delta has formed. A delta is an area where a river slows down and splits into many smaller channels. Land builds up in between the channels, creating islands in the middle of the river. Within this delta area, just north of Buenos Aires, is a small town called El Tigre.
The environment of El Tigre is really special. The islands that form in the delta are covered with lush green plants. In one small area you can find dozens of different plant species that are thriving because there is so much water available. Many animals live here, too, including colocolos (wildcats), marsh deer, and capybaras (big rodents). El Tigre was named for the jaguars, which are locally called tigres, that were once hunted here. There are no jaguars left in the area.
Each household in El Tigre has a boat. In fact, once you leave the main shore, the only way to travel through the town is by water. The canals are marked with signs, just like street signs, so that people can find their way around.
