Manaus Totally Explained

Everything about Manaus totally explained

Manaus is a city in the northern part of Brazil and capital of Amazonas State. Located on the Rio Negro near its confluence with the Rio Solimões (also known as the Amazon River), it's the chief port and a hub for the region's extensive river system. It is also a common point of departure for tourists visiting the rest of the Amazon region.

Geography

Climate

An equatorial climate is a type of tropical climate in which there's no dry season – all months have mean precipitation values of at least 60mm. It is usually found at latitudes within five degrees of the equator – which are dominated by the Intertropical Convergence Zone. The equatorial climate is denoted Af in the Köppen climate classification. Tropical rainforest is the natural vegetation in equatorial regions. Although Manaus meets the technical requirements for "Am", or monsoon rainforest, in the Köppen climate classification, Neotropical areas are not usually referred to as monsoon rainforest.

Vegetation

The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. More than 1/3 of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest.

Economy

Although the main industry of Manaus through much of the 20th century was rubber, its importance has declined. Given its location, timber and Brazil-nuts make up important trades, as do petroleum refining, soap manufacturing, and chemical industries. Over the last decades, a system of federal investments and tax incentives have turned the surrounding region into a major industrial center (the Zona Franca of Manaus).
   The mobile phone companies Nokia, Sagem, Gradiente and BenQ-Siemens run mobile phone manufacturing plants in Manaus. Also, many other major electronics manufacturers such as Samsung, Sony and LG have plants there. Plastic lens manufacturer Essilor also has a plant here.
   The GDP for the city was R$ 27,214,213,000 (2005).
   The per capita income for the city was R$ 16,547 (2005).

Sites and attractions

Manaus is a cosmopolitan city, and, because of its location next to the Amazon rain forest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists, who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. It is also home to one of the most endangered primates in Brazil, the Pied tamarin.
   Tour boats leave Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black waters of the Negro River meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River, flowing side by side without mixing for about 9 km. Visitors can also explore river banks and "igarapes", swim and canoe in placid lakes or simply walk in the lush forest. The most adventurous may even choose to spend a night or two in the jungle in close contact with nature. There are many hotels in the jungle with the comfort to enjoy the nature.
   The Teatro Amazonas, an opera house built in 1896, is a notable landmark of Manaus, reflecting the massive wealth of the turn of the century rubber boom. The theatre was prominently featured in Werner Herzog's 1982 film Fitzcarraldo. The exuberant interior of this 1896 opera house, completed after 15 years, contains crystal chandeliers, wrought-iron banisters, and Italian frescoes, as well as a museum.
   About 18 km from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. A luxurious hotel is located at the west end of Ponta Negra; its small but very interesting zoo and orchid greenhouse as well as preserved woods and beach are open for public visits.
   The CIGS Zoo (military zoo for rescued animals), which doubles as an army training center, also is located in the neighbourhood and houses a few hundred endemic and native amazonian species of mammals, reptiles, and birds.
   The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882, is the city's oldest marketplace, trading in fruit, vegetables, and especially fish. It's a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. Other interesting historical sites include the customs building, of mixed styles and medieval inspiration; the Rio Negro Palace cultural center; and the Justice Palace, right next to the Amazonas Opera House.
   Manaus has also many large parks with native forest preservation areas, such as the Bosque da Ciência and Parque do Mindú. The largest urban forest in the world is located within Federal University of Amazonas (External Link

), which was founded in January 17, 1909 and is the oldest federal university of Brazil.
The city has a busy cultural calendar throughout the year, including the Opera, Theater, Jazz and Cinema festivals, as well as Boi Manaus (usually held around Manaus' anniversary on the 24th of October), which is a great celebration of Northern Brazilian culture through Boi-Bumbá music.
Much of Fitzcarraldo was shot in or near Manaus.

Facts about Manaus

Manaus timezone is (UTC – 4). However, being close to the equator, Manaus doesn't observe daylight saving time.
Roughly two thirds (60%) of the population of the Brazilian state of Amazonas (estimated population, 2.8 million) live in Manaus or in the greater metropolitan area.
It is warm all year round, with a wet season in the winter months. Temperatures are generally around 30° – 36°C (86° – 97°F).
Manaus hosts the world's largest samba festival every October, with over 18 bands and more than 100,000 guests.

Education

Educational institutions

Universities in Manaus include:

Federal University of Amazonas

University of the State of Amazonas

Infrastructure

International Airport

Eduardo Gomes International Airport is like a small city in full development. Responsible for employing roughly 3,300 people, among employees of Infraero, public organs, concession holders, airlines and auxiliary services, it has fully modern infrastructure. The airport has two passenger terminals, one for scheduled flights and the other for regional aviation. It also has three cargo terminals: Terminal I was opened in 1976, Terminal II in 1980 and Terminal III in 2004. Passenger Terminal I has six boarding bridges, five of them fixed and one mobile, along with three boarding lounges for domestic flights and one for international connections, six domestic and two international gate holding rooms, 30 check-in counters, parking for 424 cars and security booths scattered throughout the complex. The airport concourse offers a variety of services and products. There are branches of Banco do Brasil and Banco Real; ATMs of Banco do Brasil, Banco Itaú, Banco Bradesco and Banco 24 horas; shops selling handcrafts and imported liquors; a drugstore; candy store; shops selling clothing, footwear and accessories; a perfume store; a shop specializing in chocolates; snack bars; a café; car rental agencies; a currency exchange; diaper-changing room; tourism shops; a sport fishing operator; tobacco shop; ice cream parlor; trade point; taxi stands; and a cellular telephone shop. There is a beer garden and restaurant on the panoramic level. The scheduled airlines operating from Terminal I are: Varig, Vasp, Gol, Nordeste and COPA. Eduardo Gomes International Airport is Brazil’s third largest in freight movement, handling the import and export demand from the Manaus Industrial Complex. For this reason, Infraero invested in construction of the third cargo terminal, opened on December 14, 2004.

Highways

Road access from the south, southwest, midwest, and northeast regions is to Belém, capital of the State of Pará. From there, the trip takes 96 hours by boat or river ferry to Manaus, over the Pará and Amazonas Rivers. There is a paved road connecting Manaus to Boa Vista, capital of the State of Roraima, and to Venezuela.

Main access roads

From Boa Vista to Manaus: BR-174

From Brasília to Belém: Belém-Brasília Highway (BR-153, BR-226 and BR-010)

Neighborhoods

Acariquara

Adrianópolis

Ajuricaba

Aleixo

Amercromby

Américo Medeiros

Aparecida

Armando Mendes

Amazonino Mendes B

Bairro da Paz

Bairro da União

Bairro Novo

Bela Vista

Betânia

Belvedere

Belo Horizonte

Ben Hur

Braga Mendes C

Cachoeirinha

Campos Elíseos

Campos Sales

Castanheira

Ceasa

Centro

Chapada

Cidade Nova

Cidade de Deus

Colônia Antônio Aleixo

Colônia Oliveira Machado

Colônia Santo Antonio

Colônia Terra Nova

Colina do Aleixo

Compensa

Conjunto 31 de março

Coroado

Crespo D

Dom Pedro I

Dom Pedro II

Déborah

Distrito Industrial

Duque de Caxias E

Educandos

Eldorado F

Flamanal

Flores

Florestal

Franceses

Fortaleza G

Galiléia

Gilberto Metrinho

Glória

Grande Vitória I

Inuyashaa

Isicis H

Hiléia J

Japiim

Japiinlândia

Jardins

Jardim América

Jardim Belém

Jardim Curitiba

Jardim Fortaleza

Jardim Independente

Jardim Manaus

Jardim Paulista

Jardim Porto Alegre

Jardim Versalles

João Paulo

Jorge Teixeira

Jornalistas

José Bonifácio K

Kíssia L

Lagoa Verde

Lírio do Vale M

Manôa

Mauazinho

Monte das Oliveiras

Monte Pascoal

Monte Sião

Monte Sinai

Morada do Sol

Morro da Liberdade

Mundo Novo N

Nossa Senhora das Graças

Nossa Senhora de Fátima

Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Soccoro

Nova Betânia

Nova Canaã

Nova Cidade

Nova Conquista

Nova Esperança

Nova Floresta

Nova República

Nova Vitória

Novo Aleixo

Novo Israel

Novo Reino O

Oswaldo Américo

Oswaldo Frota

Ouro Verde P

Parque 10 de Novembro

Parque das Laranjeiras

Parque das Nações

Parque Riachuelo

Parque São Pedro

Praça 14 de Janeiro

Petrópolis

Planalto

Ponta Negra

Presidente Vargas R

Raiz

Redenção

Renato Souza Pinto

Riacho Doce

Ribeiro Júnior S

Santa Etelvina

Santa Inês

Santa Luzia

Santo Agostinho

Santo Antônio

São Raimundo

Santos Dumont

São Francisco

São Geraldo

São Jorge

São José

São Lázaro

São Lucas

São Paulo

Sol Nascente T

Tancredo Neves

Tarumã

Tiradentes

Tropical U

União da Vitória V

Valparaíso

Vale do Sinai

Vieiralves

Vila Amazonas

Vila Buritis

Vila da Prata

Vila Marinho

Vila Real Z

Zumbi dos Palmares

Events

February – Amazonas Carnival – samba schools parade at the ‘sambodromo’ in the Convention Center

May – Ponta Negra’s Music Festival

June – Amazonas Folklore Festival

June 29 – São Pedro Fluvial Procession

September 5 - The elevetion of Amazonas a Brazilian province category

October 24 – Anniversary of Manaus

December 31 – Ponta Negra’s New Year’s Eve Party

Attractions

Amazonas Theater It is the greatest symbol of Manaus’ economic peak. It has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought over from Europe, French glass and Italian marble. Several important opera and theater companies, as well as international orchestras, have already performed there. Ponta Negra Cultural, Sport and Leisure Park Ponta Negra beach, located 13 km from downtown Manaus, is one of the city’s most important tourist attractions. The complex has beach volleyball courts, cycle way, a belvedere, playground, a medical center and a large sidewalk with bars, restaurants and snack bars. The sunset seen is extraordinary. It also has a modern amphitheater with capacity for 15 thousand people, dressing room, and all the infrastructure for shows, where many popular spectacles are constantly being held. Public Swimming Areas The Tarumã, Tarumãzinho and Cachoeira das Almas bayous (branches of rivers), located near the city, are places of leisure for the population on weekends. Manaus has several public swimming areas that are being remodeled and urbanized lately. There are also many private clubs that can be visited. Beaches and Ecological Parks For outings to beaches and parks situated near the city, it's often necessary to use boats. The beaches are formed right after the river water level starts dropping, which lasts from August to November. Starting in December, as the river rises, the waters invade the sand and the woods on the banks. Paricatuba Waterfall This waterfall, located on the right bank of the Negro River, along a small tributary, is formed by sedimentary rocks, surrounded by abundant vegetation. Access is by boat. The best time to visit is from August to February. Love Cascade This cascade, located in the Guedes bayou, with cold and crystal clear water, is accessible only by boat and, then, hiking through the Forest. Tupé Beach Approximately 34 km from Manaus, this beach is well frequented by bathers on holidays and weekends. It is accessible only by boat. When the Negro River waters rise, the beach is restricted to a 20 m width and when they recede, it can reach 80m. Moon Beach It is located on the left bank of the Negro River, 23 km from Manaus. It is accessed only by boat. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon and has rare vegetation of natural beauty, with a great stretch of sand and clear, cold water. Lion Waterfall Located on km 34 of the AM 010 highway (Manaus-Itacoatiara), this is a pleasant place to spend the day. Bathing in the waterfall is allowed. The water is clear and very cold. Anavilhanas Approximately 100 km above Manaus, near the Township of Novo Airão, on the Negro River, there's Anavilhanas, the world’s largest archipelago of fluvial islands. There are about 400 islands covered with native forest, forming a real natural labyrinth. During the dry season, the receding waters reveal several white sand beaches and interesting natural formations of roots and trunks. Meeting of the Rivers This natural phenomenon is caused by the confluence of the Negro River’s dark water and the Solimões River’s muddy brown water that come together to form the Amazonas River. For 6 km, both rivers waters run side by side, without mixing. This phenomenon is caused by the great difference between the water temperatures and current speeds. The Negro River flows approximately 2km/h at 28°C, while the Solimões River flows 4 to 6 km/h at 22°C. Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden The Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden, inside a 100 km2 ecological reserve, is the world’s largest, with a huge number of plant and animal species. Municipal Park of Mindú It is located in an urban area, in the November 10 Park district. It was created in 1992 to be an area of ecological interest. It covers an area of 330.000 m2 (33 ha) of forest remaining from the Township, used for scientific, educational, cultural and tourist activities. It is one of the last habitats for the sauim-de-coleira, a species of monkey that only exists in the Manaus region and is threatened with extinction. It is possible to walk safely through four distinct ecosystems in the park: land covered by secondary growth, firm ground brush, sandbanks and degraded areas that were illegally cleared in 1989. The Park also has a Library, with an information center on the environment connected to the Internet. It also has a parking area, amphitheater for 600 people, gardens planted with medical and aromatic herbs, orchid nursery, above ground trail and signs aiming to develop environmental education programs. The Science Grove (External Link

) The Grove is located in the INPA’s – Amazonas National Institute for Research – area. A visit to the grove provides better knowledge of the Amazonas environment, while it permits pleasant moments walking through its trails and paths. The Grove’s main attractions are: otter vivarium, manatee hatchery, bee hives, Science House, educational trails, alligator’s vivarium, botanical garden, above ground trail, free fauna, orchid nursery and bromeliad nursery. Zoo The zoo is open to the public. It is managed by the Brazilian Army and has approximately 300 species of animals from Amazonas fauna, including monkeys, wildcats, otters, snakes, alligators, macaws, tapir, and turtles. Tropical Manaus Eco Resort It is Brazil’s most luxurious hotel, located in the heart of the Amazon Forest, on the banks of the Negro River. It has 588 apartments and the largest complex of hotel, events, sports, and tourism and leisure services. It is only 10 km from the Brigadeiro Eduardo Gomes International Airport and 16 km from downtown Manaus. Cruises - Iberostar Gran Amazon A luxurious boat, with capacity for 150 people, will take tourists on a cruise over the Negro and Amazon Rivers, offering comfort and the excellent Iberostar service. The trip starts in Manaus, stopping at several locations in the Amazon jungle to take tourists on small boat excursions that will explore the thick native vegetation. Ideal for those who like adventure, but want the comfort of a five star hotel.

Sports

Manaus is one of the 18 remaining candidates to host games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the only South American bidder.

Further Information

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