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As the international price of gold continues to soar, thousands of people in Peru have moved to gold mining areas in the hope of striking it rich.

Along with the unregulated digging comes a trail of deforestation and chemical contamination that is damaging one of the most biodiverse regions on earth.

In addition to the negative environmental impact, there are also many social problems in the boom towns that have emerged.

Al Jazeera’s Craig Mauro reports.