Madre de Dios is considered Peru’s final frontier. Located in the southeast corner of the country in the jungles of the Amazon, it is the poorest region in terms of economics, but perhaps the richest in natural resources. Gold has been rediscovered and with it, goldmining. Artisinal mining – single person or family base skimming has given way to larger companies, who are devestating the land and exporting both the resources and much of the profits. What is left behind is an ecological mess in terms of deforestation and mercury poisoning.