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Home >> Guyana >> Read about >> Eldorados true treasures: they set out to find the City of Pure Gold but found Garden Eden
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Eldorados true treasures: they set out to find the City of Pure Gold but found Garden Eden
In thousands they come to seek their fortune in the jungle: Guyana’s gold and diamonds lure hordes of prospectors into the wilderness. It began 500 years ago when the rumor spread in Europe that there was a city of pure gold hidden between the amber-colored rivers and the emerald green rainforest. Yet with their minds set on finding the fabulous eldorado, the treasure hunters did not notice the richness surrounding them.
Bernhard Grdseloff
Bernhard Grdseloff
Jaguar: safari destination for people...
...who want to experience something new: photo session with black caiman
"Our true eldorado is the unspoiled nature, our tropical flora and fauna," says Gerald Gouveia, president of Guyana’s hotel association. And Lucy Spelman, director of the Washington National Zoo, adds: "It’s a safari destination for people who already know Africa and are in for some new experiences."
Four fifths of Guyana is covered in jungle – one of the last four, utterly pristine rainforest areas on the globe. This Garden Eden is inhabited by colorful macaws, monkeys, jaguars, tapirs and giant otters – all in all 800 bird species, 200 different mammals, more than 400 fish species and 150 amphibians and reptiles.
But the legend of the Golden City in the tropical forest also has a grain of truth to it. On average, a ton of gold and 50 kilograms of diamonds are prospected from Guyana’s rivers and dug up from the soil each month. And that’s only the official amount.
"There are thousands of people out there panning alone or in twos," says Nicole Corea, whose family has been making a fortune on gold prospectors and diamond diggers for thee generations, flying out or taking boatloads of provisions to the fortune-seekers. "In some remote places you’d think you’re in the Wild West."
Photo: Duane de Freitas, Dadanawa Ranch
Four fifths of Guyana is covered in jungle – one of the last four, utterly pristine rainforest areas on the globe. This Garden Eden is inhabited by colorful macaws, monkeys, jaguars, tapirs and giant otters – all in all 800 bird species, 200 different mammals, more than 400 fish species and 150 amphibians and reptiles.
But the legend of the Golden City in the tropical forest also has a grain of truth to it. On average, a ton of gold and 50 kilograms of diamonds are prospected from Guyana’s rivers and dug up from the soil each month. And that’s only the official amount.
"There are thousands of people out there panning alone or in twos," says Nicole Corea, whose family has been making a fortune on gold prospectors and diamond diggers for thee generations, flying out or taking boatloads of provisions to the fortune-seekers. "In some remote places you’d think you’re in the Wild West."
A hop, skip and jump from the Caribbean
What might this young Guyana jaguar below be dreaming of? Hardly of white sandy beaches and the turquoise blue sea, even if the Caribbean islands are right in front of his nose. Paradise to him is the jungle, the savannah and the honey-colored rivers. That’s where the majestic wild cat rules over some of the largest creatures on earth. "Guyana is home to almost a dozen giants from the animal world," raves Lucy Spelman, director of the Washington National Zoo. "The Giant otter, the Anaconda, the mighty Harpy eagle, the Giant ant-eater, the Black caiman, the giant freshwater fish Arapaima, the largest river turtle and the largest bat." And all that just a hop, skip and jump away from the Caribbean…Photo: Duane de Freitas, Dadanawa Ranch