Jan Sochor Photography

Amazon River

The Amazon rain forest is the largest dense tropical forest area in the world. Amazonia is very sparsely populated.

River Solimoes, close to Manaus, Brazil.

The riverport of Belém is the entrance gate to Amazonia. Fish, fruits, meat, herbs, crafts and spices are sold in the Ver-o-Peso market (Check-the-weight) right in the port.

The riverport of Belém (Brazil) is the entrance gate to Amazonia. Fish, fruits, meat, herbs, crafts and spices are sold in the Ver-o-Peso market right in the port.

Poliomyelitis (polio) disease is still widely seen in the whole Amazonia territory.

A man affected by poliomyelitis (polio) disease begging on the street of Belém, Brazil.

Settlers burn through the jungle to extend their farms and get profit from cow breeding.

A homeless tattooed man is proudly showing his body art on the street of Belém.

Indian kids in their one-person dugout canoe are coming near big transport ships begging for candies.

Indian kids in Amazonia paddling in their one-person dugout canoe close to the big transport ships, usually begging for candies or using a big ship as a lift.

Strong and lasting rains are very common in Amazonia. They make the small river communities with unpaved streets muddy and hardly habitable.

A woman on a motorbike passing through the unpaved, muddy street in a small river community São Paulo de Olivença, Brazil.

Amazon kids in their canoes cross the river up and down using the big boats like a lift. Usually they try to sell some jungle fruits or bananas to boat passengers.

Indian kids in their canoes cross Amazonian rivers up and down using the big boats like a lift. Usually they try to sell some jungle fruits or bananas to boat passengers.

The city of Manaus is an industrial hub deep in the Amazon jungle. Due to its isolation, it is very difficult to move off.

Brazilian people drinking cachaca in the port of Manaus, an industrial hub deep in the Amazon jungle of Brazil.

The living standards in the poor neighborhoods in Manaus are similar to other South American mega-cities.

A poor shanty town of Manaus, Brazil. The living standards in the poor neighborhoods of Manaus are similar to those in the other South American mega-cities.

Food and supplies distribution in Amazonia basically depends only on the river boat transport.

A young man carrying a tied pig in the port of Belém, Brazil. Food and supplies distribution in Amazonia basically depends only on the river boat transport.

Descendants of the Amazonian indigenous people are increasingly adopting Christian religion.

A Brazilian man having the Christian cross symbol on his ankle as a protection against drowning in the river. Descendants of the Amazonian indigenous people are increasingly adopting Christian religion.

Most people in Amazonia live off fishing. Jungle soil is too poor to run a regular agriculture.

An Indian woman cutting and gutting a river fish in the Amazonian jungle, close to Leticia, Colombia.

Supplies carriers from the river boat during the arm wrestling combat.

Supplies carriers from a river boat during the arm wrestling combat in the port of Santarem, Brazil.

An Indian girl protecting herself with umbrella from the tropical weather in Amazonia.

An Indian girl protecting herself with umbrella from the tropical hot weather in Leticia, Colombia.

Amazon River

Brazil and Colombia, June 2004

Amazonia is the world's largest dense tropical forest area. Since the 16th century the original indigenous people have been virtually pushed away or exterminated. The primal ancient unity between tribes and the jungle ambient has changed into a fight between the urban based civilization and the jungle enviroment. New generations of white and mestizo settlers have not become adapted to the wild tropical climate and rough conditions so far, but they keep moving deeper into the virgin forest. The technological expansion causes that Amazonia is changing rapidly.

Photography by Jan Sochor

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