A historic drought in South America, along the Amazon River, has revealed ancient human faces, which were carved into stone around 2,000 years ago.&nbsp;

The unusually sparse rainfall in Brazil led to an alarming drop in the water levels of the Amazon River, hence, revealing the carvings of animals and other forms on the shores of the Rio Negro.&nbsp;

This is not the first case, a few of these rock carvings had been spotted previously and archaeologists have been aware of the carved faces for years.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/scientists-unveil-recreation-of-500-year-old-sacrificial-incan-girl-in-peru-651073">Scientists unveil recreation of 500-year old sacrificial Incan girl in Peru</a>&nbsp;

The low level of water has unearthed previously unseen carvings as the researchers are intrigued by a new variety of them which has given them insights into their origins. &nbsp;

The petroglyphs found at the Ponto das Lajes archaeological site, or Place of Slabs, appear to have been created by indigenous people before contact with European explorers.&nbsp;

The Ponto das Lajes is on the north shore of the Amazon near where the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers join.

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Archaeologist Jaime Oliveira&nbsp;was cited by Reuters as saying, "The engravings are prehistoric, or precolonial. We cannot date them exactly, but based on evidence of human occupation of the area, we believe they are about 1,000 to 2,000 years old. What we're seeing here are representations of anthropomorphic figures." &nbsp;

Oliveira said the carvings were first seen there in 2010, but this year's drought has been more severe, with the Rio Negro dropping 15 metres (49.2 feet) since July, exposing vast expanses of rocks and sand where there had been no beaches.

"This time we found not just more carvings but the sculpture of a human face cut into the rock," said Oliveira, who works for the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) that oversees the preservation of historic sites.

A historic drought in South America, along the Amazon River, has revealed ancient human faces, which were carved into stone around 2,000 years ago. The unusually sparse rainfall in Brazil led to an alarming drop in the water levels of the Amazon River, hence, revealing the carvings of animals and other forms on the shores of the Rio Negro.

A historic drought in South America, along the Amazon River, has revealed ancient human faces, which were carved into stone around 2,000 years ago. The unusually sparse rainfall in Brazil led to an alarming drop in the water levels of the Amazon River, hence, revealing the carvings of animals and other forms on the shores of the Rio Negro. This is not the first case, a few of these rock carvings had been spotted previously and archaeologists have been aware of the carved faces for years. Also read: Scientists unveil recreation of 500-year old sacrificial Incan girl in Peru The low level of water has unearthed previously unseen carvings as the researchers are intrigued by a new variety of them which has given them insights into their origins. The petroglyphs found at the Ponto das Lajes archaeological site, or Place of Slabs, appear to have been created by indigenous people before contact with European explorers. The Ponto das Lajes is on the north shore of the Amazon near where the Rio Negro and Solimoes rivers join. Also read: California's supervolcano shows signs of activity, over 2,000 earthquakes rumble beneath valley Archaeologist Jaime Oliveira was cited by Reuters as saying, "The engravings are prehistoric, or precolonial. We cannot date them exactly, but based on evidence of human occupation of the area, we believe they are about 1,000 to 2,000 years old. What we're seeing here are representations of anthropomorphic figures." Oliveira said the carvings were first seen there in 2010, but this year's drought has been more severe, with the Rio Negro dropping 15 metres (49.2 feet) since July, exposing vast expanses of rocks and sand where there had been no beaches. "This time we found not just more carvings but the sculpture of a human face cut into the rock," said Oliveira, who works for the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) that oversees the preservation of historic sites.

Drought reveals ancient rock carvings of human faces along Amazon River

The Amazon River, a lifeline of the Brazilian rain forest, has plummeted to its lowest level in more than a century, as a severe drought disrupts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and wreaks havoc on the jungle's fragile ecosystem.

Rapidly dwindling tributaries have left boats stranded, cutting off essential supplies to remote villages and decimating the river's biodiversity, including the population of endangered river dolphins.

The port city of Manaus, at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Amazon River, has recorded historically low water levels, posing a dire situation for the region's most populous city.

Villagers in the heart of the Amazon rainforest have been grappling with months of relentless drought.&nbsp;

<h2>Historic low water levels</h2>

The situation is deeply alarming, with the port of Manaus measuring a mere 13.59 meters (44.6 ft) of water on a Monday compared to 17.60 meters just a year ago.

This record low is the lowest level registered since the commencement of record-keeping in 1902, surpassing the previous all-time low in 2010. The implications of such a drastic drop in water levels are extensive, touching upon transportation, agriculture, and health.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/worlds-longest-river-nile-might-be-just-months-away-from-losing-its-title-641776">Also read |&nbsp;World’s longest river Nile might be just months away from losing its title</a>

The Brazilian government's disaster alert centre, Cemaden, has noted that some areas of the Amazon have experienced the driest period from July to September since 1980.

The Brazilian Science Ministry attributes this dire situation to the onset of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has caused extreme weather patterns globally.

It anticipates that the drought will persist at least until December when El Niño's effects are expected to peak. This has created a severe predicament, impacting not only the immediate environment but also the livelihoods of thousands of people.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-100-dolphins-found-dead-in-amazon-as-water-temperature-soars-to-39degc-641437">Also read |&nbsp;Over 100 dolphins found dead in Amazon as water temperature soars to 39°C</a>

<h2>Impact on local communities</h2>

The drought's impact is acutely felt by local communities, affecting the lives of 481,000 people as of the most recent data.

Isolation due to dried-up river channels has hindered the transportation of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicines. While some areas remain reachable by canoe, many boats have been unable to navigate the receding waters, leading to a reliance on tractors or foot travel to deliver goods.

In addition to logistical challenges, the drought has posed severe health risks to residents. Reduced water levels have raised concerns about the cleanliness of local water supplies. The scarcity of clean water has led to health issues among the community's children, with instances of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever due to waterborne diseases becoming more frequent.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Amazon River, a lifeline of the Brazilian rain forest, has plummeted to its lowest level in more than a century, as a severe drought disrupts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and wreaks havoc on the jungle's fragile ecosystem.

The Amazon River, a lifeline of the Brazilian rain forest, has plummeted to its lowest level in more than a century, as a severe drought disrupts the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and wreaks havoc on the jungle's fragile ecosystem. Rapidly dwindling tributaries have left boats stranded, cutting off essential supplies to remote villages and decimating the river's biodiversity, including the population of endangered river dolphins. The port city of Manaus, at the confluence of the Rio Negro and the Amazon River, has recorded historically low water levels, posing a dire situation for the region's most populous city. Villagers in the heart of the Amazon rainforest have been grappling with months of relentless drought. Historic low water levels The situation is deeply alarming, with the port of Manaus measuring a mere 13.59 meters (44.6 ft) of water on a Monday compared to 17.60 meters just a year ago. This record low is the lowest level registered since the commencement of record-keeping in 1902, surpassing the previous all-time low in 2010. The implications of such a drastic drop in water levels are extensive, touching upon transportation, agriculture, and health. Also read | World’s longest river Nile might be just months away from losing its title The Brazilian government's disaster alert centre, Cemaden, has noted that some areas of the Amazon have experienced the driest period from July to September since 1980. The Brazilian Science Ministry attributes this dire situation to the onset of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which has caused extreme weather patterns globally. It anticipates that the drought will persist at least until December when El Niño's effects are expected to peak. This has created a severe predicament, impacting not only the immediate environment but also the livelihoods of thousands of people. Also read | Over 100 dolphins found dead in Amazon as water temperature soars to 39°C Impact on local communities The drought's impact is acutely felt by local communities, affecting the lives of 481,000 people as of the most recent data. Isolation due to dried-up river channels has hindered the transportation of essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medicines. While some areas remain reachable by canoe, many boats have been unable to navigate the receding waters, leading to a reliance on tractors or foot travel to deliver goods. In addition to logistical challenges, the drought has posed severe health risks to residents. Reduced water levels have raised concerns about the cleanliness of local water supplies. The scarcity of clean water has led to health issues among the community's children, with instances of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever due to waterborne diseases becoming more frequent. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Amazon river falls to lowest level in over a century amid Brazil drought crisis

Amazon river is facing a tough situation with century low-levels of water causing a record-drought in the Brazilian rainforest. This led to stranded boats and isolated remote villages.

Amazon river hits century-low water levels; record drought disrupts lives in Brazilian rainforest

The Amazon River is facing a tough situation with century-low water levels causing a record drought in the Brazilian Rainforest. This has led to stranded boats and isolated remote Villages now the high water temperatures also continue to pose a threat to the endangered river dolphins.

Record droughts destroy lives in Brazilian rainforest

Which is the world’s longest river?

According to Encyclopedia Britannica and Guinness World Records, it is Africa’s Nile.

But an upcoming Amazon River expedition could very well challenge this perception. A team of international researchers and explorers will embark on a 7,000-kilometre journey in April 2024 to solve one of the biggest mysteries regarding the natural world.

55-year-old Brazilian expedition leader Yuri Sanada was quoted as saying by CNN that “The Nile is like a worm and the Amazon is an anaconda.”

While it is already established that the Amazon is the world’s most voluminous river, the question persists which is the world’s longest. Amazon carries at least four times more water than any other river.

“So there’s no comparison – we have the biggest river. But the longest, we will see,” he added.

<h2>The biggest dispute</h2>

Where does the Amazon River originate from? That’s the question which revolves around the whole length dispute.

Traditionally, the researchers have been deeming the headwaters of the Apurimac River in southern Peru as the starting point of the river.

But many other scientists dispute that theory.

Expeditionists like James “Rocky” Contos, 51, claim to have discovered a more distant river source – the Mantaro River, in northern Peru.

Watch:&nbsp;Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon falls 66% in August | WION Climate Tracker

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“I was aware that the most distant source of the Amazon was considered to be the Apurimac, but when I was gathering all information – maps, hydrographs, etc. – in preparation for my trip to Peru, I realized that another river appeared to be longer,” Contos was quoted as saying by CNN.

<h2>Details about expedition</h2>

The planned expedition will follow the course of the Amazon River through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. It commences at the newly identified source in the Peruvian Andes, the Mantaro River.&nbsp;

The initial leg of the journey involves navigating the Mantaro's rapids on a raft led by Contos. Upon reaching the confluence with the Ene River, the team will continue their voyage aboard three specially designed solar- and pedal-powered boats, tracing the Amazon's path to the Atlantic Ocean along the Brazilian coast.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/over-100-dolphins-found-dead-in-amazon-as-water-temperature-soars-to-39degc-641437">Also read:&nbsp;Over 100 dolphins found dead in Amazon as water temperature soars to 39°C</a>

In early 2025, a secondary expedition is scheduled to start from the traditional source of the Amazon, the Apurimac River in Peru. This segment will provide an opportunity for a second set of measurements and will feature the participation of French explorer Celine Cousteau, granddaughter of the renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who will travel on horseback along the riverbanks.

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Which is the world’s longest river? According to Encyclopedia Britannica and Guinness World Records, it is Africa’s Nile. But an upcoming Amazon River expedition could very well challenge this perception.

Which is the world’s longest river? According to Encyclopedia Britannica and Guinness World Records, it is Africa’s Nile. But an upcoming Amazon River expedition could very well challenge this perception. A team of international researchers and explorers will embark on a 7,000-kilometre journey in April 2024 to solve one of the biggest mysteries regarding the natural world. 55-year-old Brazilian expedition leader Yuri Sanada was quoted as saying by CNN that “The Nile is like a worm and the Amazon is an anaconda.” While it is already established that the Amazon is the world’s most voluminous river, the question persists which is the world’s longest. Amazon carries at least four times more water than any other river. “So there’s no comparison – we have the biggest river. But the longest, we will see,” he added. The biggest dispute Where does the Amazon River originate from? That’s the question which revolves around the whole length dispute. Traditionally, the researchers have been deeming the headwaters of the Apurimac River in southern Peru as the starting point of the river. But many other scientists dispute that theory. Expeditionists like James “Rocky” Contos, 51, claim to have discovered a more distant river source – the Mantaro River, in northern Peru. Watch: Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon falls 66% in August | WION Climate Tracker × “I was aware that the most distant source of the Amazon was considered to be the Apurimac, but when I was gathering all information – maps, hydrographs, etc. – in preparation for my trip to Peru, I realized that another river appeared to be longer,” Contos was quoted as saying by CNN. Details about expedition The planned expedition will follow the course of the Amazon River through Peru, Colombia, and Brazil. It commences at the newly identified source in the Peruvian Andes, the Mantaro River. The initial leg of the journey involves navigating the Mantaro's rapids on a raft led by Contos. Upon reaching the confluence with the Ene River, the team will continue their voyage aboard three specially designed solar- and pedal-powered boats, tracing the Amazon's path to the Atlantic Ocean along the Brazilian coast. Also read: Over 100 dolphins found dead in Amazon as water temperature soars to 39°C In early 2025, a secondary expedition is scheduled to start from the traditional source of the Amazon, the Apurimac River in Peru. This segment will provide an opportunity for a second set of measurements and will feature the participation of French explorer Celine Cousteau, granddaughter of the renowned oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, who will travel on horseback along the riverbanks. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

World’s longest river Nile might be just months away from losing its title

The illegal gold mining business is booming in Brazil, with miners pinning their hopes on a bill. More than 5000 illegal gold mines are operating in the Amazon forest which results in polluting the Amazon River.

Illegal gold mining thrives in Amazon, miners attack indigenous people

Heavy rains in the Amazon Rainforest are causing rivers to reach record levels in the rainy cross-section of the Amazon river. The Brazilian geological service confirmed that the water levels are set to reach a record 30 meters, the highest level since records began in 1902.

Amazon rivers in Brazil are swelling to record levels

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released stunning images of&nbsp;numerous gold prospecting pits in eastern Peru.

The pictures&nbsp;captured by a crew member of Expedition 64 at&nbsp;the International Space Station (ISS) shows&nbsp;Amazon rivers and&nbsp;pits, usually hidden from an astronaut’s view by cloud cover or outside the Sun’s&nbsp;glint point, stand out brilliantly in this image due to the reflected sunlight.&nbsp;

The river and the pits cut through the otherwise unbroken Amazon rainforest in Peru’s Madre de Dios state.

In this very wet climate, the prospecting pits appear as hundreds of tightly packed water-filled basins. Likely dug by independent miners, each pit is surrounded by de-vegetated areas of muddy soil.

These deforested tracts follow the courses of ancient rivers that deposited sediments, including gold.&nbsp;

Peru is the sixth-largest producer of gold in the world, and Madre de Dios is home to one of the largest independent gold mining industries in the world. Mining is the&nbsp;main cause of deforestation&nbsp;in the region, and it also can cause mercury pollution from the gold-extraction process.

Yet tens of thousands of people earn their living from this unregistered mining.

The small town of Nueva Arequipa is just visible along the&nbsp;Southern Interoceanic Highway. Inaugurated in 2011, the highway, is the only road connection between Brazil and Peru. It was intended to stimulate trade and tourism, but due to the great expansion of surface prospecting,&nbsp;deforestation may be the larger result&nbsp;of the highway. Some areas in the state are protected from mining, such as the Tambopata National Reserve.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released stunning images of numerous gold prospecting pits in eastern Peru. The pictures captured by a crew member of Expedition 64 at the International Space Station (ISS) shows Amazon rivers and pits, usually hidden from an astronaut’s view by cloud cover or outside the Sun’s glint point, stand out brilliantly in this image due to the reflected sunlight.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released stunning images of numerous gold prospecting pits in eastern Peru. The pictures captured by a crew member of Expedition 64 at the International Space Station (ISS) shows Amazon rivers and pits, usually hidden from an astronaut’s view by cloud cover or outside the Sun’s glint point, stand out brilliantly in this image due to the reflected sunlight. The river and the pits cut through the otherwise unbroken Amazon rainforest in Peru’s Madre de Dios state. In this very wet climate, the prospecting pits appear as hundreds of tightly packed water-filled basins. Likely dug by independent miners, each pit is surrounded by de-vegetated areas of muddy soil. These deforested tracts follow the courses of ancient rivers that deposited sediments, including gold. Peru is the sixth-largest producer of gold in the world, and Madre de Dios is home to one of the largest independent gold mining industries in the world. Mining is the main cause of deforestation in the region, and it also can cause mercury pollution from the gold-extraction process. Yet tens of thousands of people earn their living from this unregistered mining. The small town of Nueva Arequipa is just visible along the Southern Interoceanic Highway. Inaugurated in 2011, the highway, is the only road connection between Brazil and Peru. It was intended to stimulate trade and tourism, but due to the great expansion of surface prospecting, deforestation may be the larger result of the highway. Some areas in the state are protected from mining, such as the Tambopata National Reserve.

NASA releases stunning photo of 'gold' Peruvian Amazon rivers

Forget hydroxychloroquine. Try tea of jambu, also know as the toothache plant, that villagers in the eastern Amazon believe will help you keep new coronavirus at bay.

Amazon villagers take herbal tea to fight COVID-19

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