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Amazon
Expedition 2003 |
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ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT
200 years later
from Venezuela
to Brazil through the Amazon jungle.
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In
1804, the famous Naturalist ALEXANDER FREIHERR VON HUMBOLDT returned
home to
Europe after his historic
five-year-expedition to the Americas. One of his most famous and
important discoveries is the Rio Casiquiare, which connects the two
largest rivers in
South America, the
Amazon and the Orinoco. This "Father of Geography" proved true the
legends of this mysterious river connection.
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200 years later, this
assertion proves to be true. Civilization has had little impact on
this wild and rough world. The indigenous people of the Amazon still
hunt with their ancestral weapons such as arrows and blowpipes, they
still float on their traditional canoes across the waters and fish
enormous catfish.
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The
expedition steps back 200 years. Starting with two rigid inflatable
boats from a point where other type of boats can barely follow:
Further up from the rapids of Puerto Ayacucho, the Rio Orinoco
separates Colombia from Venezuela. 550 kilometers upstream the Rio
Casiquiare bifurcates from the Orinoco. After another 400 kilometers
across the rainforest the river discharges into the Rio Negro, which
itself unifies with the Amazon at the limits of Manaus.
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Humboldt left in May 1800 from San Carlos de Rio Negro, which is
situated in the triangle of Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. After a
journey of 75 days he landed in Angostura, the actual Ciudad
Bolivar, this being 2'250 kilometers from his starting point.
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Our
expedition follows and documents the complete route of Humboldt. We
visited the indigenous tribes who live along the banks of the rivers
(by example the Yanomanis) and we observed the vast varieties of
flora and fauna (river dolphins, caimans, piranhas, etc.). We passed
the Roca de Cocuy, which Humboldt climbed, a rock formation 472
meters high. From the top one can contemplate the immense greenness
of the Amazonian rain forest. After the bifurcation of the Orinoco
and the Casiquiare, in the village of Tama, we encountered the
contrast between the world of the natives and the progress of the
twenty-first century.
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Some
local tour-operators are commercializing parts of Humboldt's route.
A station for biological studies investigates life above the
treetops. A little airstrip connects the native inhabitants with the
rest of the country. From Esmeralda we drive downstream the Orinoco
until Puerto Ayacucho. After the cataracts the Orinoco is fully
navigable, and there is no need of inflatable boats to reach Ciudad
Bolivar.
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Karl
Wallner, 72, of German origins, who arrived to Venezuela 40 years
ago, is our guide for the jungle. He knows it like the palms of his
hands. He also knows all the "caciques", the chiefs and they respect
him. He crossed the rainforest innumerable times for oil and mining
companies, he has also taken commissions for the protection of the
environment and for the human rights to the farthest corners of the
forest.
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The
Media |
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As a team
of professional journalists (writing, photography and film) were
joining in the expedition and a number of media companies had already
shown interest in the publication of the material, a high circulation
in English, German and Spanish speaking publications was guaranteed.
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The
Route |
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Credits |
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Organized by:
Ivor Heyer (AB Inflatables) and Andy
Leeman (Yacht Center Palma)
Photography:
Karl-Heinz Eiferle
Film Production:
Carles Perez
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Additional
Information |
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Distance Covered:
3000 km
RIBs
used:
AB 840VST, fully
equipped for expedition with 2 x 200 hp Yamaha motors
AB 740VST, fully equipped for expedition with 225 hp Yamaha motor
Logistical Support:
3 Canoes
Amount of fuel used:
10000 liters (2642
gal)
Amount of oil used:
250 liters (66 gal)
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Our
Sponsors |
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Thanks to the sponsors listed below, we
were able to make the route of Humboldt 200 years later, a once in a
lifetime promotional and historical event.
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