Page 92 - BBC Focus Earth From Above - 2017 UK
P. 92
SOUTH AMERICA
BRAZIL BOLIVIA
BRA Z IL BO L I V I A
Rainforest retreat Mines in the sky
Part of Brazil’s ‘Arc of Deforestation’, Gold and silver mines pepper the
Rondonia has become one of the Andean Plateau (Altiplano). The bulk of
Amazon’s most deforested areas. Over it lies in Bolivia at an average altitude of
PERU
25 per cent of its trees have been cleared 3,750m. Silver mining in the area began
since the 1970s to make way for cattle around 1,000CE, before the time of the
BRAZIL BOLIVIA
and soybeans. Yet without nutrients Incas. The plateau’s geological heritage
from the plant matter that lines the has left it rich with precious minerals.
rainforest floor, the soil is only fertile Rondonia The Andes started forming 6-10 million
for a few years. years ago when the Nazca Plate began
‘subducting’ beneath the South Andean
PHOTO: PLANET LABS INC Plateau
American Plate, forcing it upwards. ARGENTINA
PHOTO: PLANET LABS INC
92
