Connecting Two Oceans For decades, some people in South America had dreamed of a road that would cut across the continent. T is road would connect the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. T at dream became a reality in 2011. T e Interoceanic Highway stretches from
the Atlantic coast of Brazil to the Pacific coast of Peru. T e road is 2,600 km long. It cuts through grassy plains, dense rain forests, and towering mountains. T e highway gives people an easy way to travel across the continent. In some ways, that’s a good thing. In other ways, it’s a big problem. T is highway slices through some of the
most biodiverse rain forests in Peru. T e road gives loggers, ranchers, farmers, and miners easy access to the forest. Salazar worried that the forest and its creatures were at risk. So, she started taking pictures.
Looking to Protect Salazar discovered that many people who wanted to develop the land didn’t really know what lived there. T ey didn’t know what was at risk. Her photos showed sleek jaguars, brilliant macaws, and hairy tarantulas. Her photos helped convince people that this area needed to be protected. She worked with a conservation group to
help create a series of conservation corridors. T ese are long stretches of rain forest on either side of the highway that are protected from development. T rough this compromise, the road can still be used, but plants and animals will be protected.
Coming Next Salazar is pointing her camera at a new subject now. She’s on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. She is photographing species that live only on the island and are in danger of becoming extinct, or disappearing forever. As in the past, she’s hoping that her photos
will call attention to the island’s endangered species. She wants to save this part of the world and all that’s in it.
22 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER
Salazar and a rhinoceros beetle Salazar’s Advice
Gabby Salazar isn’t always in faraway places. She spends a lot of time visiting schools. She enjoys talking with students about photography and conservation. Here is some of the advice she shares.
• Get outside. You don’t have to travel far. A park, a bike path, or your backyard will do.
• Unplug. Leave your electronics at home (but don’t forget your camera!).
• Forget the selfi e. Don’t focus on yourself. Turn the camera around to see the wonders of nature.
• Slow down. To notice and appreciate the beauty of nature, slow is the way to go.
Wordwise
biodiversity: the variety of life on Earth or in a particular habitat or ecosystem
conservation: careful use and protection of natural resources
conservation corridor: an area of habitat connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities or structures
extinct: no longer existing in living form
species: a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants
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