British adventurer Ash Dykes recently uncovered the source of an uncharted river deep in the Amazon rainforest. Alongside his team, Dykes navigated the dense jungle of Suriname, a region where satellite mapping has proved unreliable due to thick tree cover. The expedition led to the discovery of waterfalls and untouched wilderness, with areas possibly never seen by humans before.
By Sadie Watkins
Trekking Through the Untamed Jungle
The journey began with a helicopter drop into Suriname’s vast forest, where Ash Dykes and his team, including Jacob Hudson and Matt Wallace, faced six grueling days in the jungle. Using kayaks and carrying over 100 pounds of supplies, the group encountered swarms of insects and fought through extreme terrain. The team also faced dangerous wildlife, including caiman, snakes, and a massive Goliath tarantula. Most alarming was waking up to find jaguar tracks near their camp, confirming they had been stalked.
Discovering Uncharted Waterfalls
In addition to finding the river’s source, the explorers made a significant discovery: two previously unrecorded waterfalls. The larger of the two, standing at approximately 45 feet, was named “Wallace Falls” after one of the team members. The second waterfall, located closer to the source of the Coppename River, was named “Dykes Falls.” Neither of these features appears on existing maps, and the team has now documented the coordinates to share with cartographic institutions.
Surviving a Grueling Expedition
The expedition was anything but easy. Surviving on just 500 to 600 calories per day, the team battled through 16-hour days of hiking and kayaking through rapids. On more than one occasion, they were overrun by aggressive ants, forcing them to temporarily abandon camp. Despite these challenges, the discovery of untouched areas deep within the Amazon was an incredible reward for the explorers. Dykes commented that the team ventured into places likely never visited by humans before.
A Journey Yet to End
Ash Dykes and his team are still far from finished. They plan to follow the Coppename River to its mouth, a journey that could keep them in the jungle for another 40 days. In a time when such expeditions are rare, Dykes likened the adventure to a step back in time, exploring unknown territories as early explorers once did. The waterfalls and geographical knowledge gained from this expedition are valuable contributions to the understanding of this remote Amazon region.
This expedition demonstrates that even in the 21st century, there are still uncharted places waiting to be discovered. Despite facing extreme challenges, Ash Dykes and his team uncovered invaluable geographical data and previously unknown natural landmarks. Their findings open up new opportunities for future exploration and scientific study of remote regions.
Based on information from www.goodnewsnetwork.org and own research.