BR-230 Transamazonica dream

BR-230 Transamazonica dream

5000 km through seven states. The "Rodovia Transamazonica”  connects Joao Pessoa to the border with Peru. It 'a hard,remote and solitary road. Crossing the country following the path of the BR-230 is an almost introspective experience, where the road becomes a metaphor for the country. Among dust, heat and humidity, you can  see the most controversial aspects of a country that to pursue economic growth has perhaps succumbed to too many compromises. How in a world apart, where they seem to perceive echoes of the characters of Jorge Amado, you can meet villages born on the illegal trade in valuable timber, transported by truck whose noise seems to disappear into thin air, or illegal gold mines in which they work ghosts of mud, mercury and cyanide. The good and the bad, often enemies, sometimes allies. Happen to meet evangelical pastors, God, Church and Soul, married with young girls.  Not far away parties and prostitutes, in villages where with a little 'gold you can buy what you want. All around is Tocaia Grande.

by Giorgio Palmera

5000 km through seven states. The "Rodovia Transamazonica”  connects Joao Pessoa to the border with Peru. It 'a hard,remote and solitary road. Crossing the country following the path of the BR-230 is an almost introspective experience, where the road becomes a metaphor for the country. Among dust, heat and humidity, you can  see the most controversial aspects of a country that to pursue economic growth has perhaps succumbed to too many compromises. How in a world apart, where they seem to perceive echoes of the characters of Jorge Amado, you can meet villages born on the illegal trade in valuable timber, transported by truck whose noise seems to disappear into thin air, or illegal gold mines in which they work ghosts of mud, mercury and cyanide. The good and the bad, often enemies, sometimes allies. Happen to meet evangelical pastors, God, Church and Soul, married with young girls.  Not far away parties and prostitutes, in villages where with a little 'gold you can buy what you want. All around is Tocaia Grande.

Along the Transamazonic highway. Petrol pump in the village of Sucundurì. Along the Transamazonic highway.
Asphalting the Transamazonic highway.
Seasonal workers in a typical mud house. Along the Transamazonic highway. Trucks loaded with oil, timber and goods for whites crossing the bridge at the village "Marmelos" inhabited by Indians Tenharim. Along the Transamazonic highway. A pioneer who participated in the construction of the Transamazonic highway. Arsons along the Transamazonica highway. The farmers illegally burn the Amazon forest to get farming fields. Along the Transamazonic highway. The hunter, Raimundo Nato da Costa Morreira. For 20 years, he has been living in a small house right on the Transamazonica highway. Kilometre 610 of the Transamazonica highway.
When night falls the trucks carrying illegal wood crossing the Transamazonic highway. End of the World: the most inaccessible places of the Amazon, where the state is completely absent. Along the Transamazonic highway.
A girl dreams of finding a husband and leave the village of Sucundurì. Along the Transamazonic highway. Early morning in the village of Sucundurì. Along the Transamazonic highway. The doctor of the local pharmacy in the wooden shack by the river. "During the rainy season, this place can be cut off for weeks or even months”, he says. Roosvelt river, along the Transamazonic highway. The doctor of the local pharmacy in the wooden shack by the river. "During the rainy season, this place can be cut off for weeks or even months”, he says. Roosvelt river, along the Transamazonic highway. The city of illegal joinery, called "Posto 180", because it is located at km. 180 of the Transamazonic highway. A faithful prays in front of the church "Assembleia de Deus” in the village of Sucundurì. Along the Transamazonic highway. The floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
A crazy party of illegal gold miners in the floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
A crazy party of illegal gold miners in the floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
A crazy party of illegal gold miners in the floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
A crazy party of illegal gold miners in the floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
A crazy party of illegal gold miners in the floating nightclub called “Flutuante” in the river near Jacareacanga, the city of illegal gold mines.
An artificial lake for fish farming. 
Along the Transamazonic highway.
The Pilot Marcelo Muniz Noronha specializing in transport to the gold mining sites in the middle of the Amazon forest. A platform for illegal gold extraction.
Brothel in the gold mining town of Porto Rico. Along tre Transamazonic highway. Gold digger is not a profession, it's a lifestyle: Hard work promises boundless freedom. Gold mine of "Kiko" in Porto Rico. The gold is washed with water from high pressure hoses out of the sand and rock. Gold mine of "Kiko" in Porto Rico. In the supermarket of the gold mining town "Porto Rico" you can pay at the grocery store with money bills - or even with gold. The gold is washed with water from high pressure hoses out of the sand and rock. Gold mine of "Kiko" in Porto Rico. Destroyed forest, silted rivers, ponds full of poison: The environmental consequences of illegal gold trench in the gold mining town "Porto Rico”.
The gold is washed with water from high pressure hoses out of the sand and rock. Gold mine of "Kiko" in Porto Rico. The farmer Carlos Roberto Koch denies that there is the transport of illegal wood in "Posto 180". The city of illegal joinery, called "Posto 180", because it is located at km. 180 of the Transamazonic highway. People in the city of illegal joinery, called "Posto 180", because it is located at km. 180 of the Transamazonic highway. The gold mining town "Porto Rico”. He calls himself "Billy the Kid" of the Amazon. Along the Transamazonic highway. He calls himself "Billy the Kid" of the Amazon. Along the Transamazonic highway. Early morning in Porto Velho, Rondônia, Brazil.
The bridge over the Madeira River was inaugurated this week after five years of construction. The 975 meters long bridge connects the states of Amazonas and Rondônia.