In Ecuador’s Amazon, the Achuar people are adopting a unique form of transport: solar-powered canoes. These boats are replacing expensive and polluting diesel motorboats, which until recently were the only fast way to travel between villages.
The solar canoes have already proven their practical value. For communities where gasoline costs up to ten dollars per gallon, they are not only an environmentally friendly option but also an affordable one. And they help save lives by giving residents a way to reach clinics in time.
The Kara Solar project began thanks to volunteer Oliver Utne, who was inspired by local legends about the electric eel. In 2017, the first solar boat travelled more than 1,100 miles without fuel. Today, the team and local residents are refining the technology together, and the goal for the next five years is to increase the number of boats to 250.
For the Achuar, this is more than innovation; it is a way to preserve their way of life and their environment. Instead of roads that could disrupt their communities, they are choosing "solar rivers."
