Alto Monte de Israel, Peru facts for kids
The community of Alto Monte de Israel (which means "High Mount of Israel") is a special settlement. It is located right next to the Amazon River in Peru. This community was started in 1994 by a person named Ezequiel Ataucusi Gamonal. It is a religious community. Its creation was part of a bigger plan to connect border areas of Peru with Colombia and Brazil.
Alto Monte de Israel belongs to a religious group called the Evangelical Association of the Israelite Mission of the New Universal Covenant. People often call them the Israelites of the New Pact. The community is east of Iquitos, which is the capital city of the Loreto region. It takes about 18 hours to get there by boat on the Amazon River. Boats are the only way to reach this community.
Who Lives in Alto Monte de Israel?
The people living in Alto Monte de Israel come from many different parts of Peru. Some are also native people who have always lived in the area. Most of the people here work in farming.
Alto Monte de Israel does not have some modern services. For example, they do not have electric power, running water, or a drainage system. They also do not have internet access.
This community is different from other nearby places. It is very religious and has its own rules. They do not accept help from the Peruvian government or other groups. Instead, they follow their own understanding of the Ten Commandments.
How Alto Monte de Israel Started
In the early 1990s, Ezequiel Ataucusi encouraged his followers to move. He wanted them to go to the mountains to create their own special place. They chose an area along the Amazon River. This was near the border with the Yavarí-Mirín River. Ataucusi helped set up this place, which they called Alto Monte. He taught his followers his beliefs. He also organized them into groups to work in agriculture.
The people of Alto Monte are called Israelites. Many of them wear special clothes. The men often have long beards and hair. The women wear a veil as a sign of modesty. Their beliefs say that certain days are very important. These include the Sabbath, the new moon, and three special festivals each year. On these sacred days, no one works. Instead, they spend their time in religious worship.
See also
In Spanish: Alto Monte de Israel (Mariscal Ramón Castilla) para niños
