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1735: A story of ‘the greatest expedition the world has ever known’
1735: A story of ‘the greatest expedition the world has ever known’
Just how do you go about proving how big and what size the Earth is?
In 1735 a team of French scientists set out on a daring expedition into the South American wilderness to do just that. In the 18th century relatively little was known about the Earth and there was a race on to be the one to discover its secrets.
They travel along the Amazon and scale the Andes in their amazing challenge where they have to face all kinds of danger, not to mention disease and death.
One of them, Jean Godin, fell in love with a local girl called Isabel Grameson. When the time came for the expedition to return to France, Godin travelled ahead to ensure the way was safe for his new family. When he gets stranded, Isabel is force to go after him
Based on true fact, this is a fictional tale of what has become known as ‘the greatest expedition the world has ever known’
The author states in his author notes just how much of a research project this was and how the area depicted in the book has changed. Ecuador and Peru feature heavily but it’s the Bobanaza region in Ecuador which really takes centre stage.
The total trail involved in the novel is a real explore along the Bobonza river which wist and turns along the Amazon rainforest.
Canelos however still however has the feel of the mission town that it used to be. The people here and those who live in Sarayacu apparently have a very traditional lifestyle.
This book shows that the sense of the exploration and the excitement of possible discoveries was huge but the dangers also were great. There is a great guide of Ecuador Ecuador Insight Guides
Author/Guide: Robert Whitaker Destination: Ecuador, Peru, Amazon rainforest Departure Time: 1730s
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