Gold mining has ramped up across the Amazon rainforest in recent years, leaving devastated landscapes behind. Small-scale—and usually illegal—mining operations dredge the mineral from subsoil ...

One torched the landmark Gold Dredge No. 3, across the highway from the Chatanika Lodge, but was contained to the dredge. Another, at about 47 Mile, spread to about 30 acres and led to traffic ...