Amazonian river in the heart of the rainforest can reach temperatures of 100°C and is so hot that it BOILS its victims alive

It was once thought to only exist in legend, but a terrifying river that can boil its victims alive has been discovered in the heart of the Amazon. The river was brought to the world's attention by a scientist who believed that the legendary geothermal formation couldn't possibly be real. Now, he has shared video clips which explore the region's breathtaking uniqueness in a mini-documentary.

(Stunning footage has captured the incredible story of a once mythical boiling river in the heart of the Amazon. The scientist behind its discovery has shared video clips which explore the region's breathtaking uniqueness in a short film produced by Great Big Story)

Andrés Ruzo explored the river, in the Mayantuyacu region of Peru, in a short film produced by Great Big Story. The name of the river, Shanay-timpishka, means boiled with the heat of the sun in the language of the area's inhabitants.

The geoscientist says the heat of the air coming off the river is so intense that you can feel it burning in your nose and your lungs. Speaking in the footage, Mr Ruzo said: 'The hottest temperature I've measured is 210°F (100°C).

'To put that into everyday terms, the average coffee is roughly 130°F (55°C).

'It's hard to physically imagine that much hot water. 'You stick your hand in, and you will see second or third degree burns in a matter of seconds.

The name of the river, (Shanay-timpishka, means boiled with the heat of the sun in the language of the area's inhabitants. Geoscientist Andrés Ruzo says the heat of the air coming off the river is so intense that you can feel it burning in your nose and your lungs )

As a PhD student in geophysics at Southern Methodist University in Texas, Mr Ruzo wanted to find the river for himself. Despite his scepticism, he found himself hiking into the jungle in 2011.

(The hottest temperature Mr Ruzo has measured is 210°F (100°C). He regularly comes across dead animals, from birds to reptiles, who have succumbed to the river's heat)

( Mr Ruzo (pictured) says that the river fascinated him growing up, after his grandfather told him about legends surrounding it )

(The river is the sacred geothermal healing site of the Asháninka people of the region, who named the river Shanay-timpishka, meaning boiled with the heat of the sun)

But then, Mr Ruzo saw the legendary boiling river with his own eyes for the first time in 2011. At its widest, it is 82ft (25 metres), and around 20ft (six metres) deep.The river boils because of fault-fed hot springs.

(its widest, it is 82ft (25 metres), and around 20ft (six metres) deep. The water is hot enough to brew tea and, in some parts, it boils over)

(The river boils because of fault-fed hot springs. When rain falls on the surrounding area, it gathers into the porous sedimentary rock. As it move through the rock, it is warmed up from the primal heat of the Earth.Eventually, it comes across a large thrust fault, or crack)

(The river was discovered in the Mayantuyacu region of central Peru)

Ref: Amazonian river in the heart of the rainforest can reach temperatures of 100°C and is so hot that it BOILS its victims alive