Shanay-timpishka

Shanay-timpishka
Location
Countries	Peru
Physical characteristics
Source	Mayantuyacu
• location	Agua Caliente, Peru
• coordinates	8°48′50″S 74°44′24″W
• elevation	265 m (869 ft)
Mouth	Pachitea River
• location	Honoria, Peru
• coordinates	8°48′04″S 74°42′32″W
• elevation	160 m (520 ft)
Length	6.4 km (4.0 mi)
Width
• maximum	25 m (82 ft)
Depth
• maximum	6.1 m (20 ft)
Basin features
Progression	Pachitea River → Ucayali River → Amazon → Atlantic Ocean
River system	Amazon River

The Shanay-timpishka, more popularly known as the "Boiling River of the Amazon," is a tributary of the Pachitea River, which subsequently flows into the Ucayali River, the main headstream of the Amazon River. Though not the only thermal river in the world, it is the largest documented. Though the entire river system is about 9 km (5.6 miles), it is the lower 6.24 km (3.9 miles) of the Boiling River that is thermal. At its deepest point, the river gets to circa 4.5 m (nearly 15 ft) deep. At its widest point, the river get to circa 30 m (nearly 100 ft) wide.

At its headwaters, as a small, cold jungle stream, its water temperatures are typical ambient temperatures of around 27 °C (around 80 °F). Over its flow path, the stream flows over geologic fault-zones, where hot geothermal waters from deep in the earth, come out to the surface, turning the cold jungle stream, into the imposing Boiling River. The hottest temperature ever measured at the Boiling River was a hot spring at 99.1 °C (210 °F). The hottest average river temperature ever recorded was nearly 95 °C (203 °F).

The name "Shanay-timpishka" means 'boiled by the heat of the sun'—from "shanay" (heat of the sun) and "timpu" (the verb, "to boil"), though the source of the heat is actually geothermal.

Location and mythology

The river is located in Peru; in the State of Huánuco, the Province of Puerto Inca, and the District of Honoria. The Boiling River is part of the Pachitea River's watershed; and is located in Amazon "omagua" (low) jungle.

Three communities are located on the Boiling River: Mayantuyacu, Santuario Huishtín, and Shanay-timpishka Center.

Local shamans believe that the boiling water is birthed by Yacumama, a giant serpent spirit known as the "Mother of the Waters."

Scientific explanation

Andrés Ruzo, a geothermal scientist, has investigated the source of the heat. He initially learned of it as a child from his grandfather. The river maintains its high temperature despite not being near any known active volcanoes or geothermal vents, which normally provide geothermal heating for groundwater. Despite its unique nature, National Geographic has described it as an entirely natural feature: a non-volcanic, geothermal feature flowing at anomalously high rates. The predominant theory for the source of this heat is from the geothermal gradient of the Earth. Being closer to the Earth's mantle, underground water tends to be of a higher temperature than surface water. The theory is that rainwater falls onto the surface of the Amazon Rainforest and finds deep-rooted faults where it travels down into the crust. The water is thus heated in accordance with the geothermal gradient. It is then likely fed to the surface of the Earth through fault-fed hot springs that act to heat up the river along its stretch.

Threats

The area faces threats from deforestation. According to National Geographic, up to ninety-nine percent of this is the result of local indigenous populations selling the higher-value lumber from larger trees, then clear-burning the rest. The only section of pristine jungle remaining is the concession granted to Maple Energy, a local oil and gas company, which complies with environmental regulations under penalty of fines.

External links

• Related TED talk on YouTube