White Water

DELVE INTO THE RIVERS & LAKES OF THE WORLD

Rivers, creeks, lakes, ponds, and streams are all freshwater habitats. So are wetlands like swamps, which have woody plants and trees, also marshes, which have no trees, but lots of grasses and reeds.

Freshwater accounts for only three percent of the world’s surface water. The rest is saltwater, found in our oceans. But despite the fact that freshwater environments only account for a tiny percentage of marine life across the globe, these spaces are actually home to more than 100,000 species of plants and animals!

From the jungles of Africa and Asia to the boggy basins of the Amazon River, there are all kinds of intriguing wildlife lurking in these otherwise uninhabitable freshwater ecosystems – and our Whitewater Zone will introduce you to a lot of them.

A SAMPLE OF SPECIES

Piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri) are typically found in white water rivers, such as the Amazon River Basin, and in some streams and lakes. Sometimes, they may inhabit flooded forests such as those found in the Brazilian Amazon. They live in shoals but do not group hunt, although they may occasionally enter into feeding frenzies. In the case of a feeding frenzy, schools of piranha will converge on one large prey individual, and eat it within minutes. These attacks are usually extremely rare and are due to provocation or starvation.

Did you know a Piranha’s bite is so strong it can bite through a £1 coin!

Find out more and experience the wonders of the WhiteWater by booking your tickets today!