The Amazon
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Amazonian River
Glow of the sun leaving its mark on the Amazon river. The Amazon River one of the longest rivers in the world. It is also the largest in terms of the size of its watershed, the number of tributaries, and the volume of water discharged into the sea.
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Power For Brazil
Tito, a local fisherman from Mamiraua stands next to a solar panels that have been installed in his village, Boca do Mamiraua. The solar panels power a pump that gives the residents running water in their homes for the first time.
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Freshwater Fishing
Tito is fishing in the flooded forest near his home. He has a 'tambaqui' or Colossoma Macropomum fish on his line. The tambaqui is a large, solitary freshwater fish found in South America. It's in the same sub-family as the piranha but unlike its carnivorous cousin, this fish eats fruits, grains and nuts using its strong teeth. Tito fishes for his and his family's subsistence as opposed to commercially.
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The Amazon Boto
The Amazon river dolphin or 'boto' as it is known locally. The boto has exceptional maneouvrability thanks to its paddle-like flippers that move in a circular motion.
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Marcelo Gordo
Biologist and conservation scientist Marcelo Gordo. Marcelo has a particular interest in amphibians and has been involved in several inventories studying their behaviour and habitat. He is also heading a study on the critically endangered pied bare faced tamarin, a primate endemic to the Manaus region of Amazonas.
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River Sunset
The sun casts its rays on the Amazonian river, before night takes over.
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The Sun Sets in The Amazon
Sunset in the Amazon’s rainforest. Frequently referred to as Amazonia, the Amazon rainforest, is one of the world's greatest natural resources. Its vegetation helps to recycle carbon dioxide into oxygen, and has been commonly labeled as the "Lungs of our Planet." About 20% of earth's oxygen is produced in this forest.
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The Rainforest
It is believed that the forests of the Amazon can store half of the Earth's rainwater. Without the rainforests continual recycling of water, droughts would become a common sight.
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Anti-Poaching Patrol
Environmental analyst Fabio Osolins heads out on an anti-poaching patrol on the Rio Negro in Jau National Park. The animals most at risk are the arapaima, the black arowana and the river turtle. The latter are hunted regularly for their eggs.
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Jau National Park
A frog in the rainforest surrounding Jau National Park. Frogs are very sensitive to humidity so their abundance in the rainforest can be a good indication that the ecosystem is doing well.
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Local Radio
Local community worker Antonio Francisco da Silva Batista at the local radio station he runs voluntarily. Antonio is a member of the Boa Esperanca community in the Amana Sustainable Development Reserve. He lost his leg after he was bitten by a venomous snake.
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Measuring the Manatees
Veterinarian Carolina Oliveira measuring one of the baby Amazon manatees. Carol must measure the manatees once a week to keep track of their progress in preparation for release into the wild.
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Pied Bare Faced Tamarin
The critically endangered pied bare faced tamarin, a small primate endemic only to Manaus and surrounding areas. Manaus is the capital of Amazonas state and expanding rapidly. This expansion has caused the fragmentation of rainforest, leading to loss of habitat, one of the main things putting these animals in danger.
