Amazon Gold

People ride in a boat on the Juma River, about 80km from Apui in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, Feb. 2, 2007. Thousands of people have migrated to the region, creating a virtually instant town in the remote Amazon forest to dig for gold in the region, discovered in Dec. 2006. The environment is not much of a concern as trees are felled and pits are dug by people from all over Brazil and from all walks of life. Most simply say that some deforestation in the immense amazon it is the price to pay for Brazilians to exploit their nation's riches.(AustralFoto/Douglas Engle)

3 / 35

People ride in a boat on the Juma River, about 80km from Apui in the Brazilian state of Amazonas, Feb. 2, 2007. Thousands of people have migrated to the region, creating a virtually instant town in the remote Amazon forest to dig for gold in the region, discovered in Dec. 2006. The environment is not much of a concern as trees are felled and pits are dug by people from all over Brazil and from all walks of life. Most simply say that some deforestation in the immense amazon it is the price to pay for Brazilians to exploit their nation's riches.(AustralFoto/Douglas Engle)

gold mine amazon mineral mining forest deforest