Amapá - Brasil

It is an immense rainforest, not entirely explored, where life and dead follow its natural course according to natural laws.

In this region, there are fens that contain hundreds of animal and vegetal species, which are distributed among an extended net of rivers and forests that covers the landscape

The rainforest is enclosed by gigantic navigable lakes, which are perfect for fishing, different trips and the observation of reptiles and birds.

The State of Amapá is located in the extreme north point of Brazil. It is irrigated by The Amazonas and The Atlantic Ocean.

Its total area covers 143.453 kilometers and contains a population of 615.715 people. This State is divided in 16 cities.

In Tupi Language, the word Amapá means "the place of the rain" or "the soil that ends", this last one because of its location inside the continent.

This is probably the unique site that preserves, almost intact, its enormous biological diversity. Only 1% of the rainforest has been urbanized. The rainforest covers the 70% of the State (140.276 km2).

The Araguari is the biggest river of the State. In it, a strange phenomenon occurs in the frontier with The French Guyana; such fact, called Pororoca, permits the formation of waves in the encounter of this river with The Atlantic Ocean.

Pororoca phenomenon

Pororoca is a natural phenomenon, caused by the marines’ waters with fluvial, during tidal waves season or during full moon or new moon.

It occurs when the rising tides try to invade the estuary, but the tidal bore resists against. As the fresh water is lighter than the salt water, the sea covers a lot of distance making the tides be postponed. At one particular moment the sea overcomes, breaking the equilibrium and the tides coming in a lot.

The waves are from three to six meters high;
• Waves duration: 40 minutes
• It covers 30 Km during more than one hour and half.
• Area where the waves are highest: Close to Redentor Ranch (right side) and in Sitio Paraíso (left side) to Foz of Araguari River.
• Velocity:  20 Km/h approximately
• Frequency: each 12 hours.

Access:

By road:
BR 156, lasts 01h30 (Ferreira Gomes)
BR 156, entering in kilometre 50
AP 070, by Curiaú road, and lasts 2 hours

Fluvial:
By motorboat, from 6 to 8 hours, last 3 hours (Ferreira Gomes)

The boats trip lasts from 15 to 18 hours, from Foz of Amazonas River to Foz of Araguari.

Macapá

It is the capital of this State, the biggest city of the basin of The Amazonas, its population is: 344.194 inhabitants. It is placed over the line of The Equator, in the area where The Amazonas and The Atlantic unify themselves.
Some of the natural attractions are the fluvial beaches of Araxá and Fazendinha, and The Curiarú Lake.

The journeys through the river and the forest are very good options, in order to observe the zone.

Other interesting places to visit are The Fortress of Sao Jose and The Catholic Church of Sao Jose, built in 1761.

By plane

International Airport of Macapá
Hildemar Maia Street s/n°
PHONE :( 96) 3223-4087
FAX :( 96) 3223-2323
Distance from the center: 3 Km
Airlines that flight to Macapá: GOL, META, PUMA, TAM, VARIG

By land:

Bus Station of Macapá
Address: BR-150 (in front of ” Policía Técnica”)
PHONE: 242-5193