I had the opportunity to visit Manaus and Itacoatiara, a township 200km from the capital on a trip I made 4 years ago. We didn’t stay long, just three days, but that was time enough to marvel at the beauty of the Amazon Rainforest and to take pictures of the natural diversity amidst the forest throughout the Amazon and Urubu rivers.





Dawn on the Amazon River

At this point of the River, it is impossible to see the other side.


Anaconda

An adult Anaconda can reach 4m in length, and in the snake hyerarchy it is the second largest, just behind the Sucuri. According to the traditional saying of the Tupi culture : « In the jungle, a crocodile can kill you, a leopard can kill you also, and an anaconda can kill you. But death is a sure thing only with the anaconda. » Within the symbolism of the Tupi language, Anaconda means Mairapuã (creeping death).



A bird is observed on the banks of the Amazon River / AM.



The Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).


Detail of the Red-and-Green Macaw (Ara chloroptera)

There are 17 species of macaws cataloged in the entire Tropical America, where the glaucous macaw (Anodorhynchus glaucus) is already extinct by the man in the past century. Currently, other two species are threatened by extinction : the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus),  and lear’s macaw (Anodorhynchus leari), whose world population is around 500 survivors.


Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)

Tree canopies can reach 50 meters above ground. The top soil, almost always protected from sun rays due to the great mass of trees, means that ground vegetation is very scarce. However, most of the Amazonian fauna is composed of animals that live on the treetops between 30 and 50 meters.



The Sloth, an animal easily found on treetops throughout Amazonian rivers. The Sloth basically feeds on fruit from trees, and therefore lives high up, away from predators.


An Orchid

It is estimated that there are more than 20,000 species of Orchids in all of Planet Earth. This specimen is not typical of the Amazon Rainforest, as it is a natural orchid nursery that exists in the township of Itacoatiara.


The Iguanna

The Iguanna is an animal easily found on treetops in the Amazon Rainforest. With daily habits, it is almost a vegetarian being that feeds on insects when young, and when it reaches adulthood it feeds on hybiscus flowers, ipê, rose petals, among others.



A house on the banks of Urubu River. Township of Itacoatiara, two hours by car from Manaus.


Banks of the Urubu River

Riparian communities along the Urubu River are, in their majority, direct descendants from indigenous tribes of that region. Life conditions are conditioned to the River, that serves both as a source of nourishment and survival.


Jandira

The communities along River Urubu are, in their majority, inhabited by direct descendants from the indigenous tribes of that region. Jandira, a female indian, was born on the bands of the river and is touched by her memories of regional myths as told by her father.



Riparian dwellers feed predominantly on fish, bijú (a type of manioc cake) and local fruit. Simple fishing techniques are a source of income, as it becomes a currency for exchange for other goods. Money in these communities has little value, as bartering is still much practiced as a means of exchange and support.



The region of the Brazilian Amazon receives annually some 3,000 foreign tourists attracted by sports fishing throughout its rivers.


A riparian community

Riparian communities along the Urubu River are, in their majority, direct descendants from indigenous tribes of that region. Life conditions are conditioned to the River, that serves both as a source of nourishment and survival.


An Owl

During the boat trip along the banks of Rivers Urubu and Amazonas, it is quite common to find some species of these birds sitting still atop dried trees.



Trees along the banks of the Amazon River. In some places, the banks of the River are covered by pasture and we can even find some horses feeding. It is quite a varied environment, because many crocodile offspring are also living close to these pastures. Major trees are home to larger birds.



On the banks of Rio Urubu, houses are being built with pieces of wood held up above the river by stilts. Electric power is a rare commodity in the region where the pink tones of late afternoon favors the aparition of dolphins of the same color.



Sunset on Urubu River. Folklore tradition says that River Urubu got this name after a massacre which occurred in 1729 by the Portuguese captain Belchior Mendes de Moraes. Under his command, 300 shacks were destroyed, killing more than 28 thousand native indians in a sacrifice that gave name to the river, literally meaning the River of Vultures from the piles of cadavers left behind.


Victor Moriyama, 25, born in São Paulo, is a Social Communications major by Cásper Líbero college. He works as a photographic reporter and as a director of photography for the movie and TV industry. In 2003, he studied sociology in Paris, where he began his recently published literary project : « Marginal Aesthetics » (Zupi Publisher 2009) which depicts urban art in the city of São Paulo. Currently, he is a partner of the Audiovisual Producer « Suburbia Filmes » where he works as a Director of Photography.