BBC Video On Uncontacted Tribes

Yesterday I posted a story about another uncontacted tribe being discovered in a remote region of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. In that post, I mentioned that there are a number of such tribes in the Amazon, and that the Brazilian government has been taking steps to protect them and their environment from outside threats. It turns out, the BBC documentary Human Planet filmed a piece on those tribes, which you can watch below. The video does a good job of explaining the situation while offering up some fascinating images of these isolated people who continue to live in the same manner that they have for generations.

While watching the video and seeing these tribes first hand, I can't help but wonder what they think about the airplane that is flying overhead and shooting the images. The narrator says that the plane stayed a kilometer away, but I'm still intrigued by thoughts of what that first contact was like for the people in the village.

Big thanks to Ethnonomad for sharing the video with me!

Another Uncontacted Tribe Discovered In The Amazon

Brazil's National Indian Foundation, better known as Funai, has announced that it has discovered a new, uncontacted tribe in a very remote region of the Amazon Rainforest. The organization first spotted a clearing on satellite images, then used airplanes to fly over the region. According to this story from The Guardian, those flyovers spotted four small huts built next to banana trees and surrounded by very dense jungle.

The tribe is said to live in an area close to the border between Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia. Experts estimate that there are approximately 200 people living in the village, none of which have ever seen or met someone from the outside, modern world. The discovery brings Funai's official count of uncontacted tribes up to 14, with approximately 2000 people living in those tribes.

The Brazilian government has made it a policy to not establish contact with these indigenous people, and instead they work to protect their lands. Those regions have come increasingly under threat in recent years due to logging, poaching, and mining and other outside influences. There is a fear that contact will eventually have to be established because of those threats.

This story reminds me of a similar one from a few years back. When I wrote that story I remarked about how remarkable it is that these primitive tribes still exist in the wildest places on our planet. We take so much for granted in our modern lives, and yet these people have continued living a simple, yet successful lifestyle for centuries on end. That is such an amazing thing.

Walking The Amazon Comes To The Discovery Channel!

I've made little secret of my admiration for Ed Stafford, the man who walked the length of the Amazon River. Ed spent 860 days in the jungle, covering more than 4000 miles in the process, and setting the standard for which all 21st Century expeditions will be measured.

He completed the trek last August, and has been home to the U.K. since, and while Ed works away on a book about his exploits, the Discovery Channel is preparing to share his journey with their audience. They'll air two shows on successive Wednesdays, on February 2 and 9, at 10 PM, which will give us a glimpse into what it was like for Ed to make his epic hike. Check out the trailer and a preview clip below.

ExWeb Interviews Amazon Walker Ed Stafford

Perhaps the biggest adventure story of the year is Ed Stafford completing his expedition to walk the Amazon River from source to sea. We followed along on his adventure for months and I posted regular updates of his progress, but upon the completion of the journey, which took 860 days to complete and covered thousands of miles through some of the toughest environments on the planet.

Over the weekend, ExWeb posted an interview with Ed that serves as a great way to catch up with the explorer and find out what his life has been like since his return. It seems that he has been a busy man back home in the UK, where he has made regular television appearances, hit the lecture circuit, and found some time to hang out with his old friends.

In the interview, Ed talks about the challenges of returning to "normal" life, his most difficult times in the Amazon, how he has changed as a person, and a whole lot more. He also discusses his companion Gadiel Snachez Rivera, better known as Cho, who walked much of the way, helping Ed get through a dangerous zone on the river, and then electing to stay until the end.

For me, Ed is hands down my pick for Adventurer of the Year, and I admire what he has been able to accomplish. His Amazon walk is amongst the most impressive expeditions of all time, and it is great to hear that he is safe at home, working on a book, and plotting his next adventures. I can't wait to find out what he hopes to do next.

The Amazon Continues To Reveal New Species

Yesterday I posted a story about the latest impossible2Possible expedition, which is taking place in the Amazon at this very moment. The expedition is there to help promote the subject of biodiversity, and what better place to do so then in the most diverse location on the planet. According to a new report however, the Amazon may be even more diverse in terms of plant and animal species that we thought.

The World Wildlife Fund released the new report that it entitled Amazon Alive: A Decade of New Discoveries 1999-2009. That report says that so many new species were discovered in the Amazon Rainforest over the past decade that they averaged one new species every three days. Think about that. One new species every three days for a decade. That is an astounding figure.

The number of new creatures species discovered includes 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, 16 birds and 39 mammals. Amongst them are a new breed of anaconda, the first discovered since 1936, a bald headed parrot that is incredibly bright in color, a distinct species of the pink river dolphins that is found only in Bolivia, and a large, blue-fanged spider that preys upon birds.

This report highlights not only all the species that we know about in the Amazon, but hints at the hundreds that are still out there, waiting to be discovered. Of course, it also underscores why we need to protect the place and the amazing biodiversity there. Many of these creatures are already seeing their habitats threatened, which is also part of the message from the WWF.

I love stories like this one. It continues to remind me just how little we know about our planet and how many discoveries we're still making. Interesting stuff, and the report has some great images with it too.

Expedition Amazon 2010 Is Underway

A few weeks back I posted a story about Expedition Amazon 2010, the latest adventure sponsored by the impossible2Possible organization. At that time the group, which includes four youth ambassadors along with adventurer and i2P founder Ray Zahab, his partner Kevin Vallely and a few others, were still ramping up for their trip to the Amazon Jungle, but this week they are in Brazil and beginning their journey.

The expedition consists of a 200km (124 mile) trek through the jungle that is expected to take eight days to complete. Along the way, the team is stopping in jungle villages, meeting with the locals, and immersing themselves in the culture there. They are also making the trek to promote Biodiversity, which is the theme for i2P's efforts for this year as 2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity. The Amazon is one of the richest, most diverse, places on the planet in terms of species of plants and animals.

The team began the trek this past Saturday, and they are now several days in. You can read about their experiences and progress on the expedition's blog, which can be found by clicking here. The posts include some great photos and videos from the Amazon, where it looks like everyone, especially the youth ambassadors, are having a great time.

One of the key elements to any of the impossible2Possible expeditions is their outreach with schools, and this expedition is no different. The team is connecting directly to classrooms through the use of modern satellite technology, and this allowing hundreds of classes and thousands of students to take part in the adventure. Those kids, grades K-12, are learning more about the Amazon, the cultures there, and the importance of Biodiversity.

The expedition should run into next weekend and after that, Ray and Kevin will begin to focus on their planned run across the Atacama Desert in Chile, which is scheduled to take place in January of 2011. Lots of big things planned for this amazing group.

Expedition Amazon 2010: i2P Heads To The Jungle

Over the past few years I've covered several interesting expeditions that have been organized and conducted by the amazing team from impossible2Possible. For instance, last year they sent a group of five young men and women to Baffin Island, while earlier this year an entirely different team went to the Sahara, where they ran across the desert in Tunisia to raise funds and awareness to pay for several clean water projects in remote areas of the world. Each of these expeditions share a couple of common themes, including a healthy dose of adventure, a commitment to addressing a pressing global issue, and an outreach program designed to engage educators and their students.

Now, the i2P team is ramping up for their next big adventure, this time sending another group of youth ambassadors off to a far flung location in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil. Expedition Amazon 2010 is set to begin this month, and will feature a 200km (124 mile) trek, spread out over eight days, that will drop four young men and women, along with members of the impossible2Possible organization, into one of the harshest and most demanding climates on the planet.

Like the previous i2P expeditions, this one will have a theme as well. While in Tunisia last year for instance, the focus was on water issues, while this year, it is all about biodiversity. With that topic in mind, it is difficult to think of a better place to explore the subject than the Amazon Rainforest, which is home to thousands of unique plants and animal species. The members of the team will have an opportunity to see that diversity up close and personal while trekking through the dense jungle that is teeming with life. They'll also have the unique, and rewarding, opportunity to stop in local villages and interact with the indigenous people of the Amazon as well.

Also not surprising is that i2P has once again partnered with a number of schools to offer classrooms a unique look at an expedition as it unfolds. The team will be sending back video dispatches, photos, and journals from the field that will allow students in the classroom to feel like they are a part of the adventure. The Experiential Learning Program is an interactive two-way street as well, with the students having the opportunity to ask questions and communicate with the team, even while they are on the trek. These educational elements will give young people the chance to learn about unique cultures, the topic of biodiversity, and the amazing and important natural resource that is the Amazon Rainforest. (FYI: Educators interested in taking part in the program can click here for more information)

We'll all be able to follow along with the team as they post updates and dispatches to their blog in the days ahead.

Having visited the Amazon myself, I can attest to what kind of adventure this will be. Trekking through the jungle is no easy task, and to cover the distances that they have in mind in the time allotted, they'll need to average about 15 miles per day. That's a pretty challenging hike in good wilderness conditions, which the Amazon isn't. Throw in some heat and humidity, and this is going to be on challenging journey.

Outside Interviews Amazon Walker Ed Stafford

The Outside Blog has an interview with Ed Stafford today. He's the man who recently finished walking the length of the Amazon, an epic journey that took 859 days to complete, covering more than 4000 miles in the process. Ed's back home in the U.K. now, and taking some much needed rest before his next adventure. He's also working on a book about the Amazon walk that should make for very interesting reading.

In this interview, Stafford talks about how he came up with the idea for the journey (He Googled it!), his inspirations for becoming an explorer, and his toughest moment in the jungle. He also touches on his more exciting moments, what he missed from home while on the trek, and his favorite piece of gear on the expedition, amongst other things.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I've got a gigantic amount of respect for Ed, and his companion Cho Sanchez who accompanied him most of the way. Traveling the length of the Amazon on foot was one of the last great feats to be accomplished, and it is an amazing testament of his stamina and determination that he was able to finish the walk from source to sea. It's also good to hear that he's planning another adventure, but we'll have to wait a year to find out what he's got planned. I guess he'll stay home just long enough to finish that book, and then hit the road again. I can't wait!

The Most Isolated Man on Earth

I'm sure many of you have seen the story about the lone surviving member of an uncontacted tribe in the Amazon who has been living alone for years. It has been making the rounds on the Internet ever since it was posted by Slate late last week, and it certainly is a fascinating piece.

For those who haven't read it yet, here's a brief summary. The Brazilian government has taken steps to declare a 31-square mile area as protected forest in order to protect a single indigenous man who lives in that section of the Amazon Rainforest. He appears to be the last survivor of a tribe that once inhabited that area, and he has been living alone for more than 15 years. No one knows what happened to the rest of his tribe, and all attempts to contact him have ended with him escaping into the jungle, or violence. In one incident he even shot a man in the chest with an arrow.

I personally think that this is a remarkable story for a number of different reasons. First, I think it's great that  Brazil has taken this big step to protect the area around this one tribesman. That seems unprecedented for the most part, as human history is riddled with examples of how a conquering force just moved in and forced the inhabitants off a piece of land. We all know it would be very easy for this poor guy to just disappear altogether.

I'm also fascinated at the prospect of these uncontacted tribes that still exist in the Amazon. This isn't the first time we've heard about them in recent years, but I still find it very interesting and a bit romantic that in the 21st Century, there are still places where modern man hasn't corrupted just yet. I wonder what these people think when they see our airplanes fly over head or spot us from afar, making our way into the jungle. What do they think about us and the strange items that we call technology, that must seem like magic to them.

Finally, I can't help but wonder what life is life for this lone tribesman. He must be incredibly lonely, as he truly is the last of his people. We have all, at times, felt isolation or loneliness, but those feeling must be very overwhelming at times. We're talking about a man who has lived completely alone, with no meaningful contact with another human being in at least 15 years. That is difficult to reconcile when you consider how much we take that contact for granted.

I'm glad that he'll have an opportunity to live out his life, for however long that will be, in a protected space. He'll continue to hunt and explore that region for as long as he can. But eventually, he too will succumb to the jungle, and then this tribe will cease to be. There is some sadness in that as well.

Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho Heading Home

Yesterday I posted an update on Ed Stafford on Cho Rivera, who had just completed their trek of the length of the Amazon River, covering more than 4000 miles and spending 859 days in the "green hell" that is the rainforest. It was a long and incredibly demanding expedition that ended when the two men waded into the Atlantic Ocean at long last.

Throughout the day yesterday I had hoped to get more updates on the final leg, how they were feeling, and what it was like to finally finish, but it turns out that their website, WalkingTheAmazon.com has been getting hammered with traffic, and although they finally managed to upload a blog post, and some photos, the site has been overwhelmed with hits. So, Ed was kind enough to post updates to his other website as well, which can be found at EdStafford.org.

According to the blog post, Ed and Cho walked from 12 noon local time in Brazil on Sunday, all through the night, and into the next morning, arriving at the ocean at 9 AM, a bit later than they had anticipated, but they finished the job they had set out to do. Considering Ed had collapsed on the side of the road just the day before, it was a wonder that he managed to make it to the finish line at all.

As I predicted, Ed is still struggling to put it all in perspective, but he does say that he was nearly in tears when they waded out into the water, noting that it was "A day I will never forget for the rest of my life. No-one will ever take that away from us." I suspect it'll be some time before he can truly convey what it was like to complete the journey after all those long days in the jungle.

Now, both men are headed home. Cho is going back to Peru and Ed is, as of this writing, in Rio, preparing to board a plane to the U.K. The two men who became great friends on this trek won't be apart for long though, as Cho is already scheduled to go to the U.K. to visit Ed in short order. I imagine they'll be making some appearances together while he's there.

Again, congratulations to both men. I can't imagine the sense of satisfaction and relief they must be feeling right now. I think this calls for a little rest and relaxation. You've both earned it.

Walking The Amazon Update: "Job Done"

We're still awaiting an update to the Walking the Amazon website and blog this morning, but according to the Expedition's Twitter feed, Ed and Cho reached the Atlantic Ocean this morning, bringing an end to their amazing journey. The Twitter update had this to say:

"Job done. 28 months and Cho and I have finished walking the Amazon. I always knew it was possible. :-) Blog/images in a couple of hours...."

The expedition began back on April 2nd of 2008, and now, 4000 miles and 859 days later, it is finally over. It has been a very long and grueling, trek for Ed, who has now walked the entire length of the Amazon River, from source to mouth. The past few days haven't been easy ones however, as the two men were walking long hours in hopes of reaching the finish line at dawn today. Completing the journey was in doubt even to the very end, as Ed even collapsed unconscious on the side of the road yesterday. Help arrived quickly, and he was taken to a hotel, where he was able to regain his strength and get some rest. Apparently it was the result of exhaustion, and after a few hours rest, he returned to the point of the collapse and continued on to the end.

While I'm sure the two Amazon Walkers are relieved that their trek is finally complete, it'll probably be some time before reality actually sets in.  They'll need time to reflect on what they've accomplished and re-integrate themselves into normal life. I have a feeling that might be a bumpy re-entry.

Major congratulations to both Ed and Cho for completing the expedition at long last. I can't wait to hear more about their story and see the images of them arriving at the sea. I'll post more when we know more.

Walking The Amazon Update: End in Sight for Ed and Cho

As we near the end of what may well be the greatest expedition of modern times, Ed Stafford and Cho Rivera have begun to get a lot of mainstream press for what they are about to accomplish. After all, they are now just four days shy of completing their walk along the entire length of the Amazon, and with the journey nearly complete, those four days may be the longest yet.

As most of you know by now, Ed began his Walking the Amazon expedition back in April of 2008, and now, 855 days later, he is very close to walking out into the Atlantic Ocean. The question is, will he keep going from there, and simply swim back to England.

In a new dispatch posted to his blog this morning, Ed says that it has been a grueling few days with barely any sleep as he nears the finish line. Demands for interviews have increased dramatically, but now that he is close enough to civilization that cell phones work all the time, he can conduct those interviews without stopping.

One of the big news sources that has taken an interest in Ed's story is CNN, who published this piece on him a couple of days ago. In it, Ed reports in his own words from the jungle, and you can tell that there is a growing sense of relief that the expedition will end soon, but also a bit of sadness in that as well. For the past two-and-a-half years, the jungle has been his home, and for most of that time, Cho has been his companion. It will be hard to leave that all behind, although plans are already in the works for Ed's Peruvian companion to come visit him in England.

We've been following Ed's progress for some time now, and it's great to see his journey nearly complete. I can't wait until he can properly tell his story, as I'm sure there is a lot to share. Stay tuned to the Walking the Amazon website for daily updates over the next few days, and expect Ed and Cho to reach the finish line, aka the Atlantic Ocean, early next week.

The video below was shot a few days back, and it captures Ed and Cho leaving the jungle behind for the last time. Now, they're on more established roads as they head to the sea.




Escape the Jungle from Walking the Amazon Videos on Vimeo.

Walking The Amazon Update: 18 Days To Go!

After 841 days walking the Amazon Jungle, Ed Stafford is finally nearing the end of his expedition to cross the rainforest on foot. In fact, he even has a detailed schedule of his final days planned out, and promises daily updates to his blog to help us follow along over the final stage of his incredible journey.

Today Ed announced that there are just 18 days left until he crosses the finish line, in this case the finish line meaning a plunge into the ocean. He says that media attention has begun to increase, and he was even joined by a reporter who will be tagging along with he and Cho over the next six days. She's going to get an education on survival in the wilderness, as those next six days include a trek "straight through the unknown jungle on a compass bearing. No paths, no settlements to stay at, just swamps, river crossings and sore shoulders that never go away."

Ed's final schedule looks like this:

22nd to 27th July - last 6 days of walking through rainforest.
28th - Walk the Trans Cametá Highway to Cametá.
29th - Paddle across the Trocantins River.
30th - Walk back on the far side of the said river to correct any advance downstream the previous day [see rules on FAQ page].
31st to 3rd August - 4 days walk down highways into Belem City itself.
4th - Meet Keith (photographer) off plane. Interviews.
5th to 8th - 4 days walk towards the Atlantic Ocean to just short of Marudá.
9th August dawn - final 5km in the dark and arrive at Marudá, the Atlantic, for sunrise (0630 local time, 0930 BST, 1030 BST). Fall in the sea. Job done.

I love his "Fall in the sea. Job done." comment to end the schedule. I think you've earned it Ed. Good luck on the final two-and-a-half weeks. Nearly home!

Walking The Amazon Update: Not Done Yet, Not Getting Any Easier

It has been awhile since we checked in with Ed Stafford and Cho Sanchez on their Walking the Amazon Expedition, but as they get closer to the end of the journey, I thought that it was time for a bit of an update. As you probably remember, the two men are attempting to become the first to ever hike the length of the Amazon River, with Ed getting things started a few years back, and Cho joining him a bit later on.

They've now been in the field a total of 834 days, and they are hoping to finish up sometime in August, and although they are nearing the completion of this epic adventure, things are far from easier. For instance, I only have to point to the latest entry on the expedition's blog as an example.

It seems that this past weekend, the Ed and Cho were making their way through the jungle, headed towards their next destination, when they discovered that they were a bit off path, and their trail turned into a nasty trek through the swamp. At one point, Ed wanted to turn back, but Cho thought it best to press forward, and they ended up spending one of the longest, and most difficult, days of the expedition so far. And as night began to fall, and they still hadn't cleared the bog, it began to rain, making an already miserable day all that much worse.

The blog entry gives a bit of a glimpse into what it is like in the "Green Hell" when things start to go sour. It also shows how two people on an expedition together can get on each others nerves after awhile. It's a natural thing. But fortunately for these two, it doesn't last long, and the two are back to working together soon. In this case, it didn't hurt that they were able to find a house on stilts that gave them a warm and dry place to stay for the night.

If all of this sounds bad, be sure to check out Ed's video in which he tries to kill a botfly that has decided to take up residence in his head. That's life in the Amazon folks!


The Botfly Living in Ed Stafford's Head from Walking the Amazon Videos on Vimeo.

Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho Get Mainstream Coverage

It has been far too long since I posted anything on the Walking the Amazon Expedition, in which Ed Stafford and Cho Sanchez are covering the entire length of the Amazon River on foot, a journey of more than 4000 miles, through some of the harshest, most demanding terrain on the planet. Currently, Ed has been out on his little trek for 779 days (Cho joined him a bit later on down the road), and the pair are in North Central Brazil, continuing their slow, but steady, march to the sea, where the Amazon empties into the Atlantic Ocean, the finish line for this epic adventure.

Today, the expedition got a little mainstream attention with a story on ABC's Good Morning America. Reporter Bill Weir joined Ed for two days of his march through the jungle, and got a small glimpse of what it is like to hike the Amazon. The results are the video report that you can watch below, and the written story posted on the ABC News website, which you can read by clicking here.

As of now, Ed is expecting to complete his journey at the end of August, and he already has a plane ticket booked for home. I can't even imagine what it is going to be like for him when he is done, but I do know I want to read the inevitable book of his adventures.

Every time I read up on this expedition, I can't help but be blown away. It is such an incredible undertaking, and a staggering achievement. As someone who has actually been to the Amazon, I can tell you that I can't even imagine hiking for more than a day or two there. In fact, I did some jungle trekking, and it was swelteringly hot, incredibly humid, and paths were transient at best. The water levels change dramatically with the seasons, and there are plenty of nasty bugs, snakes, and diseases that can make you sick or worse. I have tremendous respect for both Ed and Cho, and I can't wait to see them finish up.

Walking The Amazon Update: On The Road Again

The last time we checked in with the Walking the Amazon expedition, Ed Stafford and his faithful companion Cho, had made their way into the Brazilian city of Manaus. The pair planned to travel to a nearby town, away from the hustle and bustle, and rest up, repair their rubber rafts, and resupply before heading back out into the jungle. As of yesterday, they are back on the road (quite literally) and continuing their long march to the Atlantic Ocean.

In their most recent dispatch, Ed notes that they are walking the "line of least resistance", which at the moment means that they are sticking to some remote jungle roads that will carry them out of Manaus and towards the heart of the Amazon once again. On their first day back on their feet, the managed to cover 23 miles, but were feeling rather stiff and sore in the process. Walking the roads will help them make good time for the near term though, but Ed says that it is surreal to be walking in civilization again, after so many weeks in the rainforest.

Today is Ed's 681st day in the Amazon, as he continues his march to go end-to-end. If successful, and it's beginning to look like there is no reason why he wouldn't be, he'll become the first person to ever hike the length of the Amazon River. That's a journey of more than 4000 miles through some of the most dangerous, challenging and amazing terrain on the planet. The Amazon isn't referred to as "The Green Hell" for nothing.

I remain in awe of the ambition of this expedition and the tremendous efforts that both Ed and Cho have put into it. They still have a very long way to go, but they're on their final push now, and they'll be wading into the Atlantic before they know it. From there, they can finally go home, for a much earned rest.

Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho into Manaus

It's been far too long since we checked in on the Walking the Amazon expedition. You may recall, this is the unbelievably ambitious project in which British adventurer Ed Stafford, along with his companion Cho Sanchez Rivera, are attempting to walk the entire length of the Amazon River, something that has never been accomplished before. When they've finished this herculean task, they'll have covered more than 4000 miles through thick, oppressive jungle, often referred to as The Green Hell.

Ed and Cho have recently reached the Brazilian city of Manaus, which is the largest city along the Amazon. With more than 1.8 million people, this is a town where they can rest, recuperate, and resupply before returning to the wild. Considering the long days and weeks the pair have spent slogging through the rainforest, it had to have been quite a shock to see an actual large, thriving metropolis for the first time in months. Most of the other settlements they've come across while trekking have been mostly very small villages, although there are occasionally towns of decent size along the river.

According to their most recent blog post, Manaus was indeed a bit overwhelming. Ed writes:

Cho and I wanted a place to recover and rest before our last push to the Atlantic - but Manaus isn’t that place for us. The prices are over double that outside the city limits and the industrial sprawl (now electronics assembly) is dirty and hectic.

Because of this, he and Cho have hopped a bus to another near by town, which is smaller and much slower paced. They'll spend some time there repairing their rubber boats, used to ford streams and rivers, while they regain their strength and prepare to make the final push towards the Atlantic Ocean, which is roughly 900 miles away yet.

At this point, Ed has spent 667 days on this journey, having begun on April 2nd, 2008. I know that the original plan was to end sometime early this year, but the boys have been running a bit behind schedule, and the journey ahead of them will not be an easy one. I suspect they'll be out on the trail for awhile yet.

As I've said before, this expedition continually boggles my mind. It's such a massive undertaking, it's hard to not be impressed with the sense of exploration and adventure. I hope the last long leg of the journey goes well for both Ed and Cho.

Lost Civilization Found In The Amazon?

I've been reading a bit about this story for a few days now, and find it fascinating. National Geographic is reporting that newly uncovered evidence suggests that a previously unknown ancient society once flourished in the Amazon Jungle, and it may have been spread out over a larger area than we have ever thought possible.

As most of you already know, heavy deforestation along the Amazon has cut back miles and miles of rainforest in recent years. With that heavy, green canopy cut back, satellites have been able to photograph areas of the jungle floor that have never been visible before, and what they've found is remarkable. in all, more than 200 unique geometric shapes have been spotted, such as circles, squares, and others. These shapes were built by ancient man living in the region, but their purpose is as of yet unknown. Many are as much as 12 meters across and 4 meters deep as well.

Even more surprising is the fact that these strange shapes are spread out over an area of more than 155 miles, which means the civilization responsible for them was far ranging. Scientists also believe that there may be as many ten times the number revealed so far that remain hidden beneath the jungle canopy.

When I read this story I couldn't help but think of the book The Lost City of Z, which I reviewed here. The book was about British explorer Percy Harrison Fawcett, who disappeared in the Amazon when he went looking for just this type of civilization, something that was dismissed out of hand both then, and until recently, now as well. It makes you wonder if these new structures are some how linked to Z. It's a really interesting story, and I hope we learn more about it.

Upcoming Documentary Captures Epic Paddling Journey

Back in 1982, Don Starkell, along wit two sons, Dana and Jeff, set out on a major paddling trip. The three men decided to paddle from Manitoba, Canada to Belem, Brazil, a journey that would take them more than two years to complete. Their adventure is now the subject of an upcoming documentary, which will show their struggles both with each other and the environment around them.

You can get a sneak peek at this amazing story in the video clip below, then head over to the Paddle to the Amazon website for more information. The site says that the film is still scheduled for release this year, and it looks like a very promising project.

Walking The Amazon Update: Ed and Cho Alive and Well!

When last we check in on Ed and Cho, they were going off the grid for awhile and facing some hurdles to their completion of their expedition. The boys were desperately low on food and weren't sure if they were going to be able to make it to their next supply village. Today, they finally reemerged, and have given us some updates via their Twitter feed.

Ed and Cho had estimated that they had roughly eight days worth of rations when they lost contact with the outside world, and according to their tweets, they made those rations last seven days, and they ran out of their farine two days ago. They did supplement their food supply with some things they found in the jungle, and with no rivers in this particular stretch of the Amazon, they were forced to subsist on palm hearts for several days. Ed says that they taste fine, but you have to eat a lot of them to fill up, especially when trekking through the jungle all day.

Today, the two men finally reached a village where they could at least trade for some supplies. They also report that they came across a river that was low on water but had plenty of fish, making them easy to catch, despite the fact that their net is in ruins and their hooks are all but useless with the piranha now. Still, they were able to find some real food at last, and they are very happy and proud to have survived this phase of the expedition.

Next, they'll set out in search of a jungle town known as Jurua City, where they can get actual food and possibly even some rest in a bed. It's not much more than an outpost I'm sure, but it'll seem like a metropolis to these two, after what they've been through. Ed promises a blog post on the website on Thursday as well, so stay tuned for more.

I'll say it again, this is one awesome expedition to follow, and it is great to watch it unfold. Plenty more to come as well, as they still have a long way to go to reach the mouth of the Amazon.