A gold mine in the Amazon rainforest, August 28, 2019. -
Joao LAET / AFP
An astronaut from the International Space Station (ISS) photographed golden rivers in the Peruvian part of the Amazon last December.
They are actually trenches dug by miners in search of gold.
They shine brightly under the effect of the sun's rays which are reflected there, creating a particularly rare visual effect, NASA explained on its site.
These awe-inspiring "rivers of gold" are usually invisible from space because of the layer of cloud that conceals them or the lack of light shining stagnant water, reports the
BBC
.
From BBC News, today.https: //t.co/TDfkDknCBT
- Corrado Griffa (@CorradoGriffa) February 11, 2021
Gold panning, the leading cause of deforestation
The Inambari river is visible in the left part of the photo.
The other rivers are artificial developments around which the artisanal miners have destroyed all the vegetation.
The muddy areas surrounding the pools are clearly visible in the photo.
The phenomenon is all the more worrying as the region is home to a rich biodiversity whose survival depends on preserved habitat.
This area is particularly known for its monkeys, butterflies and jaguars.
Trenches and deforestation actually follow the path of ancient rivers along which various types of sediment have accumulated over time.
Our dossier on the Amazon
Gold panning is the main cause of deforestation in the Madre de Dios region (Peru).
It is one of the main artisanal gold mining areas on the planet.
Tens of thousands of people live there from this undeclared activity, which also generates mercury pollution.
Peru is the sixth largest gold producer in the world.
Planet
Brazil: Fires increased by more than 12% in one year, especially in the Amazon
Planet
Amazonia: In 18 years, the forest has lost an area equivalent to that of Spain
Peru
Nasa
Deforestation
Planet
Gold
Amazonia