The replica of the Humboldt raft is ready to cross the Daule River

The boat was built at the initiative of the German Humboldt school and the Garza Roja Foundation, with the support of Astinave EP, National Navy and the Municipality of Guayaquil, as a historical, cultural and scientific contribution.

It was 26 days in which seven carpenters from the riverside, with the support of personnel from Naval Shipyards of Ecuador (Astinave EP), built a raft similar to that used by the German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt to navigate the Guayas River, when he arrived in these lands in the XIX century.

The boat, five meters wide and 15 meters long, is ready to be exhibited, an event scheduled for tomorrow in Guayaquil; with a contribution of the knowledge of the German Humboldt College, the Red Garza Foundation, in addition to the National Navy, Astinave EP and the Municipality of Guayaquil.

The boat was built at the foot of the Daule River, in the Garza Roja complex,  Guayas.

Two weeks ago the raft was subjected to a navigability test on the river, which had good results. According to the schedule, the delivery and exhibition is scheduled for tomorrow at the pier of Puerto Santa Ana. Those in charge of the work, Enrique Reyes and Tomás Mejía (the last one prepared the model), supervised the works.

Ramón Sonnenholzner of the Garza Roja Foundation agreed with this criterion when the project was presented three weeks ago in Guayaquil.

“We wanted to commemorate the passage of Humboldt through tropical areas and also enhance the past of river navigation in this area, almost disappeared today,” he said at the time.

He even recalled that much of Europe’s rivers still mobilize materials and tourism and if this transport is more efficient than a train. “There are times when it could be both more efficient or economical to transport by sea.”

The trips of the scientist Humboldt along the rivers of the Coast were the basis for his studies on the variety of flora and fauna of the tropical areas of America.

Source: El Telégrafo – https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/sociedad/6/replica-balsa-humboldt-rio-daule-guayaquil