In the middle of which area did Henry Ford support the establishment of an industrial town for rubber production?

Henry Ford was instrumental in the establishment of an industrial town in the Amazon Rainforest, primarily to source rubber, which was essential for automobile production, especially for tires. In the early 20th century, Ford sought to secure a direct supply of rubber, which was predominantly harvested from rubber trees found in tropical regions, and the Amazon was one of the most vital sources at that time.

By creating a rubber plantation and town called Fordlândia in the heart of the Amazon, Ford aimed to reduce dependency on foreign rubber supplies and control the production process. This endeavor was not just about harvesting rubber; it also involved building a complete community, with housing and facilities for workers, reflecting Ford’s vision of industrial efficiency and worker welfare. Fordlândia represented an ambitious attempt to integrate industrial operations with agricultural production in a remote and challenging environment.

The other options do not align with Ford's rubber production efforts; the Sahara Desert, Alaska, and the Falkland Islands do not have the climatic and ecological conditions suitable for rubber tree cultivation, making them unsuitable locations for such an initiative.