Former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt undertook an expedition into the Amazon rainforest in 1913-1914. This journey, fraught with peril, involved navigating an uncharted river later named the Rio Roosevelt (River of Doubt). The expedition aimed to map the course of this river and explore the surrounding Amazonian wilderness. Disease, starvation, and near-drowning incidents marked the challenging venture.
The expedition’s significance extends beyond geographical exploration. It highlighted the challenges and dangers of Amazonian exploration in the early 20th century. Roosevelt’s participation, despite his declining health, captured public attention and contributed to increased awareness of the Amazon’s biodiversity and the potential for resource exploitation. The near-fatal consequences of the journey underscored the region’s unforgiving environment.
