The dark history behind the image of Peru's "rivers of gold"

Peru's "rivers of gold" seen from space 0:51

(CNN) -

Not all that glitters is not gold, the saying goes, as evidenced by a new photo taken from the International Space Station (ISS).

What appear to be rivers of gold running through Peru, specifically in the Amazon rainforest in Madre de Dios state, are in fact prospecting pits, likely left by independent miners, according to NASA's Earth Observatory, which published the photo taken by one of its astronauts.

The wells are normally hidden from view from those on the ISS, but they stand out in this shot due to the reflection of sunlight.

The image shows the Inambari River and a series of wells surrounded by deforested areas of muddy debris.

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Independent gold mining supports tens of thousands of people in the Madre de Dios region, making it one of the largest unregistered mining industries in the world, according to NASA.

Mining is also the main driver of deforestation in the region, and the mercury used to extract gold pollutes waterways, the agency added.

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Prospecting for gold in the region has expanded since the inauguration of the South Interoceanic Highway in 2011 made the area more accessible.

The only road connection between Brazil and Peru was intended to boost trade and tourism, but "deforestation may be the most important result of the road," NASA said.

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The photo, published earlier this month, was taken on December 24.

Madre de Dios is a pristine part of the Amazon the size of South Carolina, where macaws and monkeys, jaguars and butterflies thrive.

But while some parts of Madre de Dios, like the Tambopata National Reserve, are protected from mining, hundreds of square kilometers of rainforest in the area have become a toxic, treeless wasteland.

Increases in the price of gold in recent years have created booming jungle cities, including emerging brothels and gunfights, as tens of thousands of people from all over Peru joined the modern gold rush.