The Beast of Zone 3

This is the most dangerous quarter in Guatemala City, Central America's biggest capital. It is known as Zone 3 or Basurero, meaning "dump". It's home to an enormous landfill site, known locally as "The Mine". The huge pit, into which tons of rubbish are dumped every day, has its own graveyard where tombs seem about to collapse at any moment. Vultures circle the skies above the informal workers as they rummage through the dump for reusable materials and scrap metal. Occasionally, a real treasure is found; money, or a gold ring. For many Basurero residents, the dump provides their only source of income.