Inside the jungle of Peru exists a river known as the “Boiling River”. The river, called Pachitea in the regional Mayantuyacu dialect, is a tributary of the Amazon and has become famous for its warm temperatures, brought about by natural geothermal springs. Or is it so? Old oilfields litter the landscape that the river cuts through and illegal logging has left patches of the jungle clear of the ancient trees that once filled it.
The government of Peru has profited from old oil projects before; the Talara desert is home to two oil wells that now produce only warm salty water where unsuspecting tourists can pay to relax in “natural healing thermal waters” while rubbing the “rejuvenating” thermal muds on their faces. Exploring the origins of this geothermal phenomenon leads to the discovery of less exemplary man-made phenomenon, all the result of desecration to this part of the Peruvian jungle.
