Best Subtropical

The Iberá Wetlands in northeastern Argentina cover roughly 1.3 million hectares, forming one of South America's largest freshwater systems and a key refuge for capybara, marsh deer, and reintroduced jaguars.

The Arabian Desert is an arid region that occupies nearly the entirety of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It covers an area of approximately 2.3 million square kilometers across multiple countries. The desert's interior contains the Rub' al Khali, or Empty Quarter, which is recognized as the...

Big Cypress Swamp is an extensive subtropical wetland in southern Florida, much of which is protected within Big Cypress National Preserve. The preserve was established in 1974 and covers roughly 729,000 acres of cypress strands, wet prairies, pinelands, hardwood hammocks, and estuarine areas. Its s...

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a protected wetland managed by the National Audubon Society in southwestern Florida. It preserves an important old-growth bald cypress forest together with pine flatwoods, wet prairie, marsh, and pond habitats used by alligators, otters, wading birds, and numerous plant...

Established in 1939, Iguaçu National Park is a protected area in the state of Paraná, Brazil, covering a significant portion of subtropical Atlantic Forest. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park protects the Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls, a massive waterfall system comprising hun...

The Gondwana Rainforests of Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage property officially inscribed in 1986, originally named the Central Eastern Rainforest Reserves. The site encompasses numerous protected reserves scattered across New South Wales and Queensland. It preserves extensive tracts of subtrop...

The Iberá Marshes, or Esteros del Iberá, constitute an extensive subtropical wetland system located in the Corrientes province of northeastern Argentina. Spanning a vast area of lagoons, swamps, and floating islands, it is one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in South America. The ecosystem sust...

Established in 1973, Chitwan National Park is Nepal's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the subtropical lowlands of the Terai region. The 932-square-kilometer protected area is particularly renowned for its population of greater one-horned rhinoceros and Bengal tigers,...

Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park protects a long, forested wetland in Collier County in southwestern Florida. Its strand swamp, sloughs, marl prairies, and upland habitats support a notably diverse assemblage of native orchids, bromeliads, royal palms, alligators, black bears, and Florida pant...

The Sonoran Desert is a large arid region covering approximately 310,000 square kilometers across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. It spans significant portions of Arizona and California in the US, as well as the Mexican states of Sonora and Baja California. The desert is ecol...

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is a protected area in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, proclaimed in 1895 and among the oldest nature reserves on the African continent. Covering approximately 960 square kilometers of hilly terrain, the park is managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and contains savanna, wood...

Bardia National Park is a major protected wilderness area located in the Terai lowlands of western Nepal. Established in 1988, it spans approximately 968 square kilometers and comprises dense forests, grasslands, and riverine ecosystems. The park serves as a critical habitat for several endangered m...

The Maputaland-Pondoland Bushland and Thickets is a subtropical terrestrial ecoregion extending along the Indian Ocean coast of southeastern Africa, primarily through South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces and into southern Mozambique. The ecoregion is characterized by dense coastal...

The Chengdu Plain is a large, fertile alluvial plain in southwestern China’s Sichuan province. Shaped by the Min River and its tributaries, it's notable for extensive agriculture supporting a significant population. It primarily serves as a vital agricultural region and sustains a dense urban area,...

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is a large protected wetland in Palm Beach County, Florida, established in 1951. It conserves part of the northern Everglades and includes sawgrass marsh, wet prairie, tree islands, sloughs, and a cypress-swamp perimeter. Managed as both wi...

Serra do Mar State Park is a protected area in São Paulo state, Brazil, created in 1977, safeguarding one of the largest continuous remnants of Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) in the country. The park extends along the coastal Serra do Mar mountain range, covering over 300,000 hectares of subtropic...

Gardenia jasminoides is an evergreen shrub native to tropical and subtropical Asia, renowned for its intensely fragrant white flowers and widely used in perfumery and as a ceremonial flower across East Asia.

Pilanesberg National Park is a major wildlife reserve located in the North West Province of South Africa, situated entirely within an ancient, eroded volcanic crater. Established in 1979, the park was populated through "Operation Genesis," which was one of the largest game translocation programs of...

Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1943 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. Although comparatively small, it preserves a biologically rich mixture of subtropical thorn forest, resacas, wetlands, and riparian habitat near the Rio Grande, where species from temperate a...

The Chihuahuan Desert is the largest warm desert in North America, covering an area of approximately 362,000 square kilometers. It spans across northern Mexico and extends into the southwestern United States, encompassing regions of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The desert is characterized by its...

Okinawa Island sits within Japan’s Ryukyu region offering a distinctive blend of Japanese heritage and ancient Ryukyuan culture. Its subtropical climate supports beautiful beaches and diverse landscapes. Historically significant as the capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom, it remains relevant for researche...

Border Ranges National Park is a protected area situated in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It forms a key section of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, a UNESCO World Heritage Area recognized for its geological features and ancient flora. The park lies within the erode...

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1946 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. It protects coastal prairie, thorn scrub, wetlands, and tidal-flat habitats used by migratory birds and wildlife adapted to the region's subtropical climate. The refuge is particularly...

Nightcap National Park is a protected conservation area located in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. It is a component of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, a UNESCO World Heritage Area inscribed in 1986. The park preserves extensive tracts of ancient subtropical and warm...

Dudhwa National Park is a protected wildlife reserve located in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India. It encompasses subtropical broadleaf forests, grasslands, and marshes that provide critical habitats for several endangered species. The park is notably home to a population of Indian rhinoceros...

Feijoa, or pineapple guava, is the fruit of Acca sellowiana, an evergreen shrub or small tree in the myrtle family. Native to parts of southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northern Argentina, it is cultivated in subtropical and mild temperate regions, including New Zealand. The green, egg-shaped...

Campos de Cima da Serra is a highland grassland region located in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The landscape is distinguished by its native campos, which are naturally interspersed with Araucaria moist forests and unique peat wetlands. This subtropical plateau is characterized...

Shuklaphanta National Park is a protected wildlife reserve located in the Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal, encompassing an area of subtropical grassland and forest. It is most notable for managing the world's largest population of the swamp deer, locally known as Barasingha. The park provides crucia...

Marakele National Park is a protected area located in South Africa's Waterberg mountain range in Limpopo Province. Established in 1994, the park serves as a sanctuary for a wide variety of wildlife, including the classic Big Five game animals. It is particularly distinguished by its large breeding c...