Puerto Colombia, Atlantico, Colombia by Rodrigo Blanco

Puerto Colombia, Colombia, South America. It was the main port during the end of the 19th century and early 20th century in Colombia and third largest port in the world for a period of time after it was built.

It stopped working as a port in 1947 when all operations moved to the nearest city of Barranquilla, in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. My grandfather, a german photographer, arrived to this port in 1933 on board the vessel "Codillera". This is the only know panorama of this magnificent bay before the pier collapsed during a storm on March 7, 2009. It survived 116 years after designed by Cuban Civil Engineer and Architect Francisco Javier Cisneros. This pier was the pride of Colombia for a period of time, since at a point it was considered the 3rd largest pier in the world. A true piece of engineering accomplishment for a the young South American nation.

It is little known fact that many immigrants looking for oportunities and a new life in the new continent, saw land for the very first time at this spot, after spending weeks crossing the ocean. Through this port came: Germans, Americans, Jews, Lebanese, French, Brits, Dutch, Spaniards, Italians and many other nationalities whose citizens helped develop the country and left an unforgettable memory by destining part of their lives, traditions and cultural baggage in this magic part of the world.

I was thinking about every single one of them when doing this project and this is my visual tribute...

~Rodrigo Blanco

This image was shot with a Nikon D2X RAW Format, using a 17-55mm Nikon ED ƒ2.8 lens, with a focal length of 40.0mm, ISO 200, ƒ/16, 1/160" on Sunday May 27, 2007, at 11:28 AM GMT-5:00. There are 10 images stitched using Photoshop CS4 Photo Merging.