The Cloud Forest: A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness

The Cloud Forest: A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness is a 1961 work by American naturalist and writer Peter Matthiessen. The book chronicles Matthiessen's experiences in the South American wilderness, focusing on the destructive impact of technology on preindustrial cultures and the natural environment.1

A cloud forest is a type of tropical mountainous region characterized by heavy rainfall and persistent condensation due to the cooling of moist air currents. These ecosystems are found at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,500 meters and are often enveloped in clouds. They are home to a diverse range of epiphytes, mosses, ferns, and lichens that thrive in the high humidity. Unfortunately, cloud forests are increasingly threatened by global warming and deforestation.2