This cactus tree was at These spines are as least two stories tall long as your hand
This cactus tree was at These spines are as least two stories tall long as your hand
There are natural areas in this world that scientists call thorn forests and they are just as uninviting as they sound. Harsh environments have always fascinated me and so when I encountered thorn forests of the Paraguayan Chaco I was enthralled.
In a region of Paraguay called the Gran Chaco (also known as Green
Hell) there are plains of grassland punctuated with large islands of
low brush and trees, all of them full of thorns. How could animals and
humans have existed here at all? It wasn't just a few plants that were
thorny. Every plant seemed to be armed with thorns, whether huge and
out in the open or hidden within small clusters of leaves.
Having a chance to be poked and pierced myself by a thorn forest was an absolutely unexpected experience during an overland trip I took through Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia five years ago. This environment was compelling enough that I was very excited about setting at least part of a new story there.
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Last reviewed 2005 June 14
