Ford's Amazon 'jungle city' detailed

A plan by car maker Henry Ford to build a utopian community within the Amazon rainforest has been revealed in a new book.

Written by Greg Grandin, Fordlandia tells the story of the community which the car manufacturer planned to build on a plot of Amazon rainforest land the size of Northern Ireland.

Ford wished to recreate "the American dream" and the rainforest habitat - built in 1927 - was complete with sights that many may link to an all-American town - from perfectly manicured lawns to white picket fences.

The town was built for the workers at the car maker's rubber plant in the rainforest.

However, his dream of a perfect rainforest habitat came to an end within two decades after some residents suffered from tropical illnesses and other issues arose.

In a review in the Metro, Keith Watson makes an interesting point about the rainforest community.

"Ford squandered the equivalent of a billion dollars on Fordlandia but never set foot there," he said.

Written by Kimberley Homer.
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