Transcript
Shell EcuadorOff the Beaten Path
Shell, Ecuador
Nestled between the Ecuadorian Andes and the Amazon Rain Forrest
Full of beauty and rich with indigenous culture
For adventure, natural wonder, cultural uniqueness, and breath taking wild life it is worth the ninety mile trip on a road with a mountain threatening landslides on one side and raging rapids up to 3,000 feet below on the other.
Beginnings: The Huaorani Indians
The Huaorani was once the largest indigenous group in Ecuador Known for being ruthless in their vengeance Armed with spears and poisoned blowguns No contact with the outside world until the 1930s
Beginnings: Shell Oil Company
Vast oil resources found beneath the bountiful Ecuadorian rainforest drew Shell Oil Company to investigate its potential
In 1937, Shell was established as headquarters for the research project
Due to hostilities from the Huaorani tribe, the company decided to abandon the project in 1948
Beginnings: Missionaries
In the late 40’s two missionary pilots went to Shell to launch Mission Aviation Fellowship
MAF’s goal to reach isolated peoples using aviation Nate Saint, one of the first two missionaries
Moved to Shell with his wife to help run the mission base where both of their children were born
The mission operated successfully for several years making contact with the Huaorani through air drops
Beginnings: Missionaries cont.
In the mid 1950’s, Shell took the center of the world stage
Four of the missionaries had gone missing Killed after finally making land contact with the
Huaorani
Beginnings: Hospital
Shortly after the MAF tragedy, the Hospital Vonzandes Del Oriente opened for business
The first of its kind in the area, thousands of native peoples were able to receive medical attention for the first time
The original location of the hospital remained standing until 2007
Modern Day Shell
Today, getting to Shell can still be fairly difficult
The airstrip is used primarily for the military and the mission base
The road leading from the capital at Quito to Shell is initially embedded in the Ecuadorian Andes Ninety miles, it can take anywhere between 3 hours
and 2 days to travel the distance The road follows begins to run parallel with the
Pastaza River Pastaza is a major tributary to the Amazon with class
IV rapids
Landslides
Due to the excessive rainfall in the region, the roadways leading to Shell are known for their landslides
At times, the highway is only wide enough for one vehicle to pass making even the smallest landslide potentially lethal
More often than not they are simply a source of delay for travel
Depending on the severity of the landslide, it can take several days to clear away debris
Local Life
Most restaurants are “mom and pop” owned and operated With open air dining rooms it allows diners to enjoy
the wildlife that roam the streets
More often than not, you will find yourself looking up to find a Capuchin Monkey has made his way to your table side Due to their natural habitat dwindling, the variety of
monkey wildlife has become more prevalent in even some of the larger cities in Ecuador
Rainforest
Just outside of Shell lays “one of the world’s megadiverse regions’’ 100 different types of trees 400 types of amphibians More than 1,500 different birds Wide variety of mammals there is no shortage of
exotic wildlife
Hiking Trail
The first stop on the hiking trail is a thirty foot waterfall
From there the route leads up and down mountain sides
Inevitably at some point on the journey, it will start to rain making the terrain a bit more slippery
At the top of the highest point on the trail there is a clearing towards the top of the foothill with a clear view of the surrounding rainforest
Hiking Trail Cont
The final stop makes any discomfort worth the effort
Running down the side of the mountain is a stream that has steadily fallen over the exposed rocks long enough to have smoothed out a path for itself
The smoothed out area is just large enough with enough water flowing through it to be a natural water slide
Conclusion
Over treacherous roads next to landslides and rapids making the journey to Shell Ecuador is worth the effort
With a culture that has changed in less than a century from complete isolation to showing tourists a way of life almost that is almost nonexistent
For an amazing variety of wildlife, a diverse rainforest, and a natural waterslide worth a long hike, a trip to the foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes where the Amazon basin begins is an amazing place to visit
Works Cited
"Ecuador: Four Months to save the World's Last Great Wilderness from 'oil Curse’”. The Guardian. Ed. John Vidal. Guardian News and Media, 13 Aug. 2011. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.
Matt. "Facts and History of Shell Mera." Eyes on Shell. HCJB Global, 06 Aug. 2010. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.
Cuna, Luminita. "Huaorani Indians: Warriors of the Amazon." Huorani Indians: Warriors of the Amazon. Luminita Cuna, 2007. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.
Works Cited Cont.
"Nate Saint." Mission Aviation Fellowship. Mission Aviation Fellowship, 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2013.
"Whitewater Rafting Tours Ecuador - Tena, Baños and near Quito." Rafting Ecuador, Whitewater Rafting, Rafting Tours, Adventure Trips. Imagine Ecuador, 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
"New World Monkeys." New World Monkeys. Ecuador-Travel.net, 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
"Global Eats: Ecuador." : Local Food, Cuisine & Recipes. FoodSpring, 2012. Web. 22 Feb.2013.
Works Cited Cont.
"Ecuador Rainforest Home to One of the Worst Cases of Oil Pollution Ever." Ecuador Rainforest And Its Devastation by Oil Production. Ed. Irina Gray. Tropical-Rainforest-Animals.com, 2008. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
"The Ecuador Rainforests." Ecuador Tropical Rainforest Project. World Land Trust, 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
"Where Is Shell Mera in Pastaza, Ecuador Located?" Where Is Shell Mera in Pastaza, Ecuador Located? GoMapper, 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2013.
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