Falling water of the Essequibo River leaves the cargo boats sitting on the bottom of the shore. Parika is the starting point for the movement of people and goods upriver

The jet boat considerably reduces the travel time between Parika and Bartica and facilitates the movement of miners into the Mazaruni

Issano in the Middle Mazaruni is four hours from Parika and has a Police Station and a medical post. Nearby is the Akawaio settlement of Tassarene

Issano supports a community of around 200 individuals most of who are involved in mining support activities

Solo miners known as “Porknockers” work small areas in the interior

Cargo boat loaded with fuel hugs the coast of the Mazaruni River as it travels upriver

Loading the boat in Issano, It required two 100 gallons of fuel for my travel to the Upper Mazaruni

Pump operator at hydraulic mining site in Mazaruni forest

Skin boats made of tree bark are traditional means of transportation for the Akawaio

Settlement on the upper Mazaruni River

This landing in the Upper Mazaruni is accessible by road through the rain forest but is easier to reach by boat

Robert Murphy a resident of the Akawaio settlement Tassarene with a matapee, a traditional cylindrical strainer

Mining site in the middle Mazaruni forest

All-terrain vehicles are used to move food and supplied from landings to mining sites in the interior

The Akawaio use skin boats, some now made of repurposed plastic drums to move to and from their villages in the forest

Hydraulic mining results in the erosion of the rain forest floor and loss of its flora and fauna

In addition to fuel cargo boats transport equipment necessary for mining

All food and provisions are brought into the Upper Mazaruni by cargo boats

Washing boat for return trip