Brazilian farmers in Amazon being ruined by floods

The small farming and ranching community of Manacapuru, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of Manaus was almost completely underwater Monday, with fields flooded and homes perched on little patches of dry land abutting the overflowing Manacapuru River.

Since record flooding hit the Amazon in May, the waters have not receded, leaving farmers, ranchers and their families struggling to survive.

Many say they have little access to food or other goods for daily life, and worry that livestock and fields will be devastated if the waters don't recede soon.

Rivers in Brazil's Amazon rainforest have swelled to levels unseen in over a century of record-keeping, according to data published by Manaus' port authorities, straining a society that has grown weary of increasingly frequent flooding.

The Rio Negro was at its highest level since records began in 1902, with a depth of 29.98 meters (98 feet) at the port's measuring station.

The nearby Solimoes and Amazon rivers were also nearing all-time highs, flooding streets and houses in dozens of municipalities and affecting some 450,000 people throughout the region.

Higher-than-usual precipitation is associated with the La Nina phenomenon, when currents in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean affect global climate patterns.

Environmental experts and organizations including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say there is strong evidence that human activity and global warming are altering the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including La Nina.

Flooding also has a significant impact on local industries such as farming and cattle ranching.

Many family-run operations have seen their production vanish under water. Others have been unable to reach their shops, offices and market stalls or clients.