AN AMAZON JOURNEY INTO THE MANAUS REGION, IN BRAZIL by george borten

The Amazon River Basin is a unique network of aquatic ecosystems, and contains some of the highest diversity of fish species anywhere in the world. Currently agriculture, deforestation, human expansion, pollution, and runoff threaten the Amazon River’s diversity.

ALONG THE RIVER, SO MANY BEACHES...

MEETING THE NATIVES

A TUKANA DANCE

TOURISM IS THRIVING IN THE AMAZON REGION

A GRAND PATRIARCH, A HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS OLD!

MEET “HAPPY”, THE BABY SLOTH

LOOKING FOR WATER LILIES...

AND HERE THEY ARE...

AN AMAZON RAIN

THE ONCE FABLED ARIAÚ JUNGLE HOTEL, NOW IN RUNDOWN CONDITIONS, AND STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE, AFTER SOME BAD MANAGEMENT MOVES. A REMINDER THAT IN THIS UNFORGIVING HOT AND HUMID TROPICAL CLIMATE THE ONLY RULE IS FAST DECAY.

A MEAGER LOAD OF TOURISTS ARRIVES AT THE ARIAÚ, INSTEAD OF THE THRONGS OF PEOPLE AND THE MANY CELEBS THAT USED TO COME HERE.

FOR THE PEOPLE ALONG THE BANKS OF THIS MIGHTY RIVER SYSTEM, THE AMAZON REGION IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THE FOREST BUT ABOUT THE BIG BODIES OF WATER, WHERE THEY LIVE, WORK, FISH, AND USE AS THEIR MAIN TRANSPORTATION WAY. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A WATERWORLD.

THE WATERFRONT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MANAUS, THE CAPITAL OF THE REGION, MIXES SHANTYTOWNS WITH SMALL SHIPYARDS.

THIS IS A LAND FULL OF NATURAL RICHES, BUT FOR THIS LITTLE BOY THE FUTURE IS BLEAK; THE ECOLOGISTS ARE CRAZY ABOUT MONKEYS AND TREES, THE MISSIONARIES ARE AFTER THE INDIANS SOULS . THE TOURISTS ARE ALL FOR THE EXOTIC SCENERY. THE BUSSINESSMEN WANT THE TIMBER AND THE MINERALS. BEING NOT A PART OF THOSE, WHO WILL TAKE CARE OF HIM ?

AN AMAZON RAIN BUT FOR SOME, THESE ARE CAREFREE DAYS...LIKE IN THIS SUNSET WATCHING FLOATING BAR ON THE AMAZON

THE INFINITY POOL AT THE TROPICAL HOTEL IN MANAUS BLENDS THE POOL WITH THE RIVER: A LUXURY FOR THE FEW

Power point creation: George Borten Most of the photos: Eduardo Gontijo Music: “Pedacinho do Céu” by Waldir Azevedo All material copyrighted – 2008 No commercial use allowed

THE END