Photo Essay Photo Essay

Photographer: Unspecified Photographer

Industrialization: Mining

Bulldozing forest to expose bauxite deposits in a state-run mining operation in the Serranía de los Pijiguaos. There are large deposits of aluminum and iron ore in the Venezuelan Guayana, and the country has harnessed the Caroní River to power huge smelting operations near Cuidad Guayana. Widespread mining of gold and diamonds is more destructive to the environment, due to mercury contamination and extensive erosion of riverbanks.