Summary

Preston begins the chapter speaking about La Mosquitia, an area of about 32,000 square miles deep in Honduras. He refers to it as "some of the last unexplored places on earth" (1). On earlier maps, it was labeled "Portal del Infierno," or "The Gates of Hell." Preston also refers to this area "one of the most dangerous in the world" (1), and it remains uninvestigated for the most part. The area has the thickest jungle in the world, and it is marked by steep mountains and ravines. Over ten feet of rain a year falls in the area, and its quicksand pools can cause a person to drown. The creatures that live there, including snakes and jaguars, are deadly. In addition to natural hazards, Honduras has one of the highest murder rates of any country in the world, and cocaine from South America...