Puerto Maldonado
Encyclopedia
Puerto Maldonado is a city in Southeastern Peru
in the Amazon forest 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) west of the Bolivia
n border on the confluence of the Tambopata
and Madre de Dios River
, a tributary of the Amazon River
. It is the capital of the Madre de Dios Region
.
Nearby are the Manú National Park
, Tambopata National Reserve
, and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park
. These are some of the most pristine primary rain forests in the world, which include several oxbow lake
s and clay licks, where hundreds of birds including macaw
s feed on clay.
. Villata founded Puerto Maldonado on July 10, 1902 as a station where the Tambopata met the Madre de Dios. He named the port after Faustino Maldonado, of Tarapoto
, who had explored the Madre de Dios in 1861 and drowned in the rapids of the Mamoré River.
The Madre de Dios region was created by law on Dec. 26, 1912 with Puerto Maldonado as its capital.
The city was formally recognized in 1985.
. The climate is hot and humid at all times. The average annual temperature is 26 °C (78.8 °F) with the months of August and September being the hottest. Annual rainfall exceeds 1000 millimetres (3.3 ft). The wet season is from October to April. The main part of the town is located on a slightly elevated area that does not normally flood in the wet season. Road travel often becomes impossible during this time. A low season occurs between June and August.
A common phenomenon known locally as a "surazo" or "friaje" occurs when polar winds blow in from the mountainous south. The temperature will drop to as low as 8 °C (46.4 °F) for several days.
around Puerto Maldonado and in the reserves.
A ferry crosses the river, linking the main road from Cuzco
to the towns of San Lorenzo, Iberia and Iñapari. The river ferry is soon to be replaced by a bridge (see below), but, for the present, is a busy hive of activity. As the cost of gasoline is very high in this area, the main mode of transportation among locals is by motorcycle. Puerto Maldonado is served by the Padre Aldamiz International Airport
.
or Trans-oceanic highway, now under construction, is intended to link the river ports of Brazil with the Pacific coast ports of Peru. The highway is planned to pass through Puerto Maldonado, crossing the Rio Madre de Dios on a 722 m (2,368.8 ft) viaduct, the Continental Bridge. The bridge, like the highway, had been proposed decades ago. Construction began under the administration of Alejandro Toledo
but has since stalled due to financial problems. The delays have also contributed to structural deficiencies. [update - I was in P.M. at the end of Sept. 2010 and work on the bridge is progressing 24/7. At that time, the (new) steel framework had been completed to both abutments and the cables were in place across the span].
In the greater area around Puerto Maldonado the highway's route cuts through primary rain forest
. Some groups, including the Peruvian NGO Asociación Civil Labor, anticipate that the road will initiate illegal logging
, hunting and settlement in areas not easily reached at present, as well as conflict with indigenous people some of who are at present uncontacted by the modern world
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in the Amazon forest 55 kilometres (34.2 mi) west of the Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n border on the confluence of the Tambopata
Tambopata River
The Tambopata River in the Madre de Dios Region flows from the eastern slope of the Andes along the border of the Puno Region to the Madre de Dios River at the capital city of Puerto Maldonado. The river flows through the Tambopata National Reserve....
and Madre de Dios River
Madre de Dios River
The Madre de Dios River, homonymous to the Peruvian region it runs through, then becomes the Beni River in Bolivia and then turns northward into Brazil, where it is called the Madeira River...
, a tributary of the Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
. It is the capital of the Madre de Dios Region
Madre de Dios Region
Madre de Dios is a region in southeastern Peru, bordering Brazil, Bolivia and the Peruvian regions of Puno, Cusco and Ucayali. Its capital is the city of Puerto Maldonado. The name of the region is a very common Spanish language designation for the Virgin Mary, literally meaning Mother of...
.
Nearby are the Manú National Park
Manú National Park
Manú National Park is a biosphere reserve located in Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before becoming an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manú National Park was conserved thanks to its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by road to this day. In 1977, UNESCO...
, Tambopata National Reserve
Tambopata-Candamo
Tambopata-Candamo is a nature reserve in the Peruvian Amazon Basin south of the Madre de Dios River in Tambopata Province's Inambari and Tambopata districts...
, and Bahuaja-Sonene National Park
Bahuaja-Sonene National Park
The Bahuaja-Sonene National Park is located in south-eastern Peru. It contains the tropical forests and tropical foothills of Puno, dwarf forests, and the Heath Pampas. It was created in July 1996 out of the Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone and expanded on Sept...
. These are some of the most pristine primary rain forests in the world, which include several oxbow lake
Oxbow lake
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped body of water formed when a wide meander from the main stem of a river is cut off to create a lake. This landform is called an oxbow lake for the distinctive curved shape, named after part of a yoke for oxen. In Australia, an oxbow lake is called a billabong, derived...
s and clay licks, where hundreds of birds including macaw
Macaw
Macaws are small to large, often colourful New World parrots. Of the many different Psittacidae genera, six are classified as macaws: Ara, Anodorhynchus, Cyanopsitta, Primolius, Orthopsittaca, and Diopsittaca...
s feed on clay.
History
In 1901, the Peruvian Government created a committee to explore the nation's rainforest. Don Juan Villalta led an expedition along the Tambopata River, departing from SandiaSandia, Peru
Sandia is a town in Southern Peru, capital of the province Sandia in the region Puno.-References:...
. Villata founded Puerto Maldonado on July 10, 1902 as a station where the Tambopata met the Madre de Dios. He named the port after Faustino Maldonado, of Tarapoto
Tarapoto
Tarapoto, known as the "City of Palms", is a thriving commercial hub in northern Peru, an hour by plane from Lima, situated in the San Martín Province of the San Martín Region, located in the high jungle plateau to the east of what is known as the selva baja...
, who had explored the Madre de Dios in 1861 and drowned in the rapids of the Mamoré River.
The Madre de Dios region was created by law on Dec. 26, 1912 with Puerto Maldonado as its capital.
The city was formally recognized in 1985.
Climate
Puerto Maldonado is in the tropical Amazon BasinAmazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
. The climate is hot and humid at all times. The average annual temperature is 26 °C (78.8 °F) with the months of August and September being the hottest. Annual rainfall exceeds 1000 millimetres (3.3 ft). The wet season is from October to April. The main part of the town is located on a slightly elevated area that does not normally flood in the wet season. Road travel often becomes impossible during this time. A low season occurs between June and August.
A common phenomenon known locally as a "surazo" or "friaje" occurs when polar winds blow in from the mountainous south. The temperature will drop to as low as 8 °C (46.4 °F) for several days.
Industry
The chief industries in Puerto Maldonado are logging, gold dredging, Brazil nut collecting, boat building and eco-tourism. The area is virtually logged out; only one mill remains. Rubber collection is long gone. Recent legislation in the European Union has put hundreds of Brazil nut collectors out of work together with the associated local factory. Small amounts of gold are collected from the river, mostly by small teams of men with hand tools. Tourism and related boat construction are currently the major sources of income. There are several tourist eco-lodgesEcotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
around Puerto Maldonado and in the reserves.
Infrastructure
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
to the towns of San Lorenzo, Iberia and Iñapari. The river ferry is soon to be replaced by a bridge (see below), but, for the present, is a busy hive of activity. As the cost of gasoline is very high in this area, the main mode of transportation among locals is by motorcycle. Puerto Maldonado is served by the Padre Aldamiz International Airport
Padre Aldamiz International Airport
Padre Aldamiz International Airport , also known as Puerto Maldonado International Airport, is a small airport located in the Peruvian city of Puerto Maldonado in the Madre de Dios Region...
.
Interoceanic Highway
The Interoceanic HighwayInteroceanic Highway
The Interoceanic Highway or Trans-oceanic highway is an international, transcontinental highway in Peru and Brazil that is conecting the two coutries . It entails the renovation and construction of roughly 2,600 kilometers of roads and 22 bridges...
or Trans-oceanic highway, now under construction, is intended to link the river ports of Brazil with the Pacific coast ports of Peru. The highway is planned to pass through Puerto Maldonado, crossing the Rio Madre de Dios on a 722 m (2,368.8 ft) viaduct, the Continental Bridge. The bridge, like the highway, had been proposed decades ago. Construction began under the administration of Alejandro Toledo
Alejandro Toledo
Alejandro Celestino Toledo Manrique is a politician who was President of Peru from 2001 to 2006. He was elected in April 2001, defeating former President Alan García...
but has since stalled due to financial problems. The delays have also contributed to structural deficiencies. [update - I was in P.M. at the end of Sept. 2010 and work on the bridge is progressing 24/7. At that time, the (new) steel framework had been completed to both abutments and the cables were in place across the span].
In the greater area around Puerto Maldonado the highway's route cuts through primary rain forest
Old growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
. Some groups, including the Peruvian NGO Asociación Civil Labor, anticipate that the road will initiate illegal logging
Illegal logging
Illegal logging is the harvest, transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal, including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission or from a protected area; the cutting of protected species; or the...
, hunting and settlement in areas not easily reached at present, as well as conflict with indigenous people some of who are at present uncontacted by the modern world