Come on this fascinating virtual journey through the northwest Amazon, one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on our planet. The Amazon River harbors abundant, exotic life, including the pink river dolphin, arapaima—air-breathing fish up to 11 feet long—20-foot-long anaconda, schools of meateating piranha, a family of fish that navigate through the dark water by electro-detection, and wood-eating catfish.

Hidden beneath the Amazon rain forest’s canopy are hanging gardens of orchids; aroids, cacti, and bromeliads; unfamiliar mammals, insects, reptiles and birds; and remote villages where traditions begun by ancient civilizations may still be found.

Edwin Smith is a museum specialist in the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park’s Amazonia Department.