AP makes rare photos of Amazonian “bridge to nowhere” and its communities 

By Rodrigo Abd

It’s no surprise that the longest bridge ever built in Peru had rarely been photographed before. Reaching the structure, which connects untouched areas of the Amazon, presents a unique logistical challenge. Photographer Rodrigo Abd reached it only after a four-day boat journey.  

While in Iquitos, one of the world’s largest cities that can be reached only by air or river, Abd captured images that showed not only the grandeur of the bridge and its surroundings but also the intimacy of people nearby going about their daily lives. The area is home to numerous indigenous groups who worry about the potential for land grabbing, deforestation and drug trafficking that plagues similar projects in the rainforest.  

Through both text and photos, Abd told these compelling stories, highlighting both the beauty of the region and the complexities of the issues faced by its inhabitants, including poverty, limited access to healthcare and education and ongoing struggles for indigenous rights. 

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