To extend map of Amazon |
Nailed in the heart of the densest forest of the world, the state of Amazon has an extension superior to 1.5 million km2, which is equivalent to 18% of the surface of Brazil (8.5 million km2). It is the major been Brazilian, it owns one of the majors diversities of the world of plants, animal, courses of rivers and minerals.
The name of Amazon was given to him originally to the river that bathes the state, by Spanish captain Francisco de Orellana. It crossed it to the navigator in 1541. In certain occasion, one was with a tribe of Indian single-breasted uniform jackets, with which it fought, associating them to the mythological single-breasted uniform jackets amazons, by that reason it gave the same name them. In indigenous language, amazons come from the word amassunu, that means “water noise�, or “water that resounds�.
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By the Treaty of Tordesillas, signed between Spain and Portugal in 1494, the amazonian region belonged to Spain. Since the beginning of century XVII, nevertheless, the area happened to be object of Portuguese incursions. The disputes with Spain finalized with the signing of the Treaty in Madrid, in 1750, that gave to Portugal the definitive possession of great part of the region. In 1850, Don Pedro II created the province of Amazon.
In the north of the state is the highest point of the Brazilian territory, the Tip gives Fog, with 3,014 meters of altitude. Located in the Mountain range of Imeri, near Venezuela, mist place setting stays permanently. The line of the Equator crosses the state, which causes that the equatorial climate predominates, characterized by average temperatures between 24° and 26° C and abundant rains throughout the year.
The region concentrates great diversity of medicinal plants, foods, oily and coloring, many of which have still not been operated scientifically. In mainland are great wood trees of law of the Amazonia. In some places the glasses of the trees are so great that they prevent the passage of until 95% of the light of the sun, causing that the interior of the forest is dark, with little ventilation and much humidity. Between the main existing species in this region they are castanheira do for, seringueira and guaraná, first produces a chestnut food and very used in the Brazilian kitchen; second, with a sap that allows the rubber production; and third, with a fruit used like stimulating and that composes the origin of a refreshment, guaraná, consumed in Brazil and abroad.
The fauna of the region includes felines, rodents, birds, quelonios and primates. Some species are in extinction danger and are being protected.
In the amazonian river basin half of the twenty majors is concentrated rivers of the world that represents a fifth part of all the fresh water reserve of the planet. Their rivers, conditional to the rain regime, constitute practically the unique routes of transport of the zone. It has more than 20,000 km. of navigable waterways.
The Amazon river is most extensive of the planet and first in volume of water (100,000 m3s). It is born in Peru, with the name of Vilcanota, Solimões when it enters Brazil and, when coming together with the Negro river, near Manaus, receives the name of Amazon. In some sections it has a width of 10 km. and a depth of 100 M.s
Between the multiple protected areas of the state of Amazon, Tip is the National Park do gives to Fog and the Ecological Park of Janauary. This one owns vegetation of mainland, igapós and the typical vegetation. The park of Janauary is administered by a tourist partnership, formed by companies of the sector by means of concession of the government of the state. In Amazon also is the National Park of Jaú, the greater forest reserve of the continent and area next to Anavilhanas, the greater fluvial archipelago of the world.
The ecological tourism (eco-tourism) is great the attractiveness of the routes of trips by the Amazonia. There are many programs accompanied by specialized guides. The state of Amazon has been pioneering in the installation of hotels in the forest, calls lodges, constructed to borders of the rivers or floating on waters of a lake in the middle of the forest.
Manaus, in the first years of century XX, the city of Manaus, capital of the Amazon enjoyed the great opulence and was the most important cultural center of the North of Brazil. The old gentlemen of the rubber dreamed in transforming it into a city of European style and they denominated “Paris of the Tropical�. The architecture of its mansions confirms the luxury and the ostentation in which their inhabitants lived. |
Recommended visits
In Manaus:
- The outskirts of Manaus, the “Encounter of waters� will be able to be observed wonderful union of waters of the rivers together Negro and Solimões to form the Amazon river, and if it is had luck will be able to see some dolphins: Tucuxi (Sotalia Fluviatalis) and the Dolphins Pink Color (Inia Geoffrensis).
- The Amazon Theater was inaugurated in 1896, and constructed during the most shining period of the rubber and is main cultural artistic patrimony of State, the materials were engaged in of Europe. Different spectacles are celebrated, with regional attractions artistic, national and international in the great occasions. Its central ship, in the form of harpa, has capacity for 640 spectators.
- The city also preserves true retorts of English constructions, like the floating dock of the port and its adjacent buildings.
- The Palace of Justice with influence of the French architecture.
- Municipal market with influence of the style art nouveau.
- Palace Black River, old soothes of the government of the state.
- Beach of Black Ponta, to 13 km. of the center of Manaus, beautiful landscape with the resistance of dark waters.
- Forest of the National Institute of Investigations of Amazonia (INPA), formed by a botanical garden and a zoological garden.
- Museum of the Indian (objects of great value of the indigenous nations).
- Museum of Natural Sciences of the Amazonia.
- Museum of the Man of the North (way of life, customs and culture of the local inhabitant).
- Museum of the Port (important historical pieces).
In the state of Amazon:
- Ecological station of Anavihanas, is the greater fluvial archipelago of the world, is formed by more than 400 islands, hundreds of Lagos, rich rivers, igapós and igarapés in vegetal and animal species. Located in the Negro river, the set of islands is a paradise for biologists, ecologists and medical instructors of the nature tourism. Of November to April, period of swellings of the Negro river, half of the islands is submerged and the animal take refuge in the highest parts. When the waters lower, the islands leave beaches of 90 km at sight. of channels that, like a network, cut into all the region. In Anavilhanas is next the National Park of Jaú, the greater forest reserve of South America, with 2.27 million of you have., also bathed by the Negro river.
Festival folkloric of Parantins, during several days of the month of June, the city of Parintins, in the state of Amazon, is scene of the greater festival folkloric of the north of the country. Marked by the mixture of the regional folklore, in which mystical personages reviven themselves, using amazonian legend allegories. |
