The Amazonas River basin and its main economic activities
Although the Amazonas river crosses three countries, its basin reaches and has influence in nine countries in South America, which are: Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and the French Guiana.
On the banks of the Amazon river, cities have been created and developed, of different sizes, in the countries that are going through. Some of those populations are:
- In Colombia: Leticia and Puerto Nariño
- In Peru: Iquitos, Caballococha, and Santa Rosa de Yavari
- In Brazil: Manaos, Belem do Paraá, Tabatinga and Macapá
Economic activities
From World War II, the economic development of the Amazon river basin became a priority for the countries that integrate it. From the 40s onwards, the construction of penetration routes from the highlands of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia to the East.
These roads have moved to a considerable amount of landless peasants to the lowlands, and have also facilitated access to the most important discoveries of oil and timber resources.
Since the 80s, the cocaine of illicit production, began to be commercially exploited, together with the commercialization of tropical hard woods and river fish. In addition, Brahman -type cattle raising began in recent pastures in the jungle.
These activities brought as a consequence a general displacement of indigenous people, who were forced to populate new reserves or remained to survive the best they could. The opening of the Amazon basin was carried out quite aggressive in Brazil. In the mid -50s, the decision was made to reorient the country through the construction of a new capital inside, Brasilia. As a consequence of this decision, a massive road construction program began in order to link to the north (the current states of ACRE, AMAPÁ, Amazonas, Paraá, Rondônia and Roraima) with the rest of Brazil.
The objective was to provide the bases to build a network of almost 32,000 km of roads aimed at replacing the traditional river transport system. At the beginning of the 21st century, these roads have not been finished, and remain in large part without paving, making traffic difficult in many points.
Importance
The importance of the Amazon river is not limited only to its large size. It is of great importance for the entire world in the environmental area. For the commercial sector of the towns and cities that border it, its relevance is exclusive and has also been highlighted as a region receiving international tourism.
The Amazonas River runs through the largest jungle in the world, which is globally recognized as the Amazon jungle. This jungle constitutes one of the most important green lungs.
The Amazon jungle has an invaluable and unique biodiversity. It is the ideal habitat for numerous species of animals, plants and insects. The Amazon region has approximately 2.5 million species of insects, with tens of thousands of plants and around 2.000 species of birds and mammals. It is estimated that a fifth of all bird species in the world are found in this immense ecosystem.
The potential and wealth that are associated with the Amazon jungle would not exist if it was not for the Amazonas river. Since it is the river who gives life and refuge to this immense biodiversity and has allowed the different species of plants, animals and insects the possibility of settling in this area. In addition to the importance of the Amazon river for its own biodiversity, it has also been and is very important for all indigenous communities and for those inhabitants of the cities that have developed on its banks.
The Amazon river allows navigation in all its immense extension and important ports have been established throughout its course in the three countries through which it passes. The most outstanding ones are located in the city of Manaos in Brazil, in the city of Iquitos in Peru, and in Leticia, belonging to Colombia.
The fact that it is a navigable communication route has resulted in an important advantage for trade between the three countries through which it passes. And it also makes possible the mass export of different products, mainly rubber, wood, banana, cassava, corn, copoazú, carambola, Arazá, or asaí, among other foods that are produced in this region. In its waters a large number of aquatic species are maintained, which has originated an important fishing trade. More than 3000 river species have been classified, and fishing is also a first -order activity developed throughout the river course.
Throughout its extension and over time, the settlement of several cities on its banks has been facilitated. Some of those important cities are Leticia, Iquitos, Manaos and Belem do Pará, as well as other smaller ones such as Cabalococha, Puerto Nariño, Santa Rosa de Yavari, and Tabatinga. In all of them the population is mostly made up of the descendants of the settlers, with a white, mestizo and indigenous origin.
Another industry that is growing accelerated is tourism in the Amazonas River. Traveling on cruise for its waters is a very popular activity today. So are the specialized packages that offer tourists guided excursions inside the jungle to enjoy their biodiversity and visit indigenous villages in order to know their customs.
In Colombia, several national parks and natural reserves have been established throughout the entire extension of the Amazon jungle, which can be known. These guided tours will allow the traveler to enjoy direct contact with the flora and fauna in all its splendor and observe several indigenous civilizations, to learn more about their way of life.
In Brazil the offer of activities that can be done in the Amazon is very wide. You can go to see pink dolphins, embark to navigate the tributaries of the Amazon river, explore the portion of the jungle under the jurisdiction of Brazil, to know the natural parks close to the city of Manaos, and many more proposals for activities.
There is a wide variety of activities that can be carried out in the Amazon River, and traveling through the different countries that he crosses can be a valuable experience to make a disconnection of the daily life of civilization and connect again with nature, to know About different cultures, their customs, their meals, and their artistic manifestations.
Threats he faces
The Amazon basin is one of the world’s geographical regions with greater wealth and potential in many areas, but it is currently one of those that faces the most threats because due to its geographical location, in many cases it is a region of the most isolated and Forgotten.
The dynamic development of the region has brought activities such as mining, wood exploitation, oil and gas extraction, illicit crops, the construction of roads and dams, agricultural and livestock expansion, forest fires and drought and drought among other.
And the sum of the effects of carrying out these activities in an uncontrolled and without planning has brought to the region negative effects, such as pollution, the deterioration of some natural resources such as water sources and forests, damage to biodiversity and habitats affecting the human population, fauna and flora and gradually causing the destruction of the Amazon.
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