Jungle Highway [Amazon River]

“Brazil’s government hopes that the Trans-Amazon Highway and other roads will draw 500,000 settlers to the Amazon in five years. New roads will change life for the Amazon’s Indians. Many will be moved to special reservations to make room for settlers and industries. Civilization is coming to the Amazon.” – Text, lower right. This colorful poster map outlines a network of paved highways that bisect Brazil’s Amazon river basin, much of it through rainforest. The main route, about 4,000 km long, was completed in 1972, resulting in severe deforestation and indigenous displacement. Due to poor soil conditions and a lack of proper infrastructure, far fewer settlers traveled inland and the project is considered primarily an expensive, environmentally catastrophic failure. Artwork by Hal Aber with photo credit given to De Wys Inc. Published by Scholastic Magazines, Inc. of Dayton, Ohio, as a Headline Focus Wall Map in February of 1973. Photographs and text on the verso describe the River Road, while a teacher’s guide offers suggestions on incorporating the content into the classroom.