River of Doubt

Synopsis

There are no greater lovers of nature and adventure than the legendary RIVER OF DOUBT Rondon and Roosevelt. In 1914, Colonel Rondon had already covered vast regions of western Brazil, connecting the south to the north through the construction of the telegraph line and facing enormous trials. On the other hand, Roosevelt had been promoted to colonel after his heroic exploit in the US War against Spain in Cuba. He had been vice president and president of the United States and his spirit of adventure brought him together with Rondon for an unprecedented expedition to a never-before-explored river, the River of Doubt. This expedition was also tragic, with three deaths. Roosevelt almost lost his life and the sufferings shortened it considerably. Inspired by these heroic deeds, author Marc André Meyers retraced this journey a century later, starting at the Apa River, on the border with Paraguay, and ending at the mouth of the River of Doubt, renamed Roosevelt. Meyers and two Brazilian colonels, Hiram Reis e Silva and Ivan Carlos Angonese, formed the first team in a hundred years to remake the entire RooseveltRondon Scientific Expedition. They traveled by boat, on mule back, in kayaks and canoes, and on foot, using the same means of transport as the original expedition. In this trajectory, they crossed Pareci, Nambikwara, Zoró, and Cinta Larga territories, and were able to assess the environmental changes of the last hundred years and, especially, the deforestation. This book is a blend of the travel journal and anthropological, historical, and biological material accounts. Travel with the author and his companions as they penetrate the forest, conquer the river, relive the dangers, witness the burning of the Amazon, and explore the past.