Roraima - Brasil

This is the most septentrional region of Brazil.

More than a half of this territory is destined to indigenous nations who lived here for thousands of years. The word Roraima, in native languages, means "The mother of the winds".
The population of Roraima State is: 381.447 inhabitants, according IBGE census of 2005.

In this context, these indigenous populations: Yanomami (the biggest one), Macuxi, Wapixana, Taurepang, Ingaricó, Maiongong, Waimiri-atroari, Maiongong and Wai-wai come from a huge ethnical trunk of the Caribbean region.

These local tribes were very helpful for Portuguese explorers who visited this region in the XVII Century. For example, explorers learnt to use local animals, the muares, as beasts of burden like native people used to.

The limits of Roraima are: to the east with The Republic of Guyana, to the north and west with Venezuela, and to the south with The States of Pará and Amazonas.

The capital of Roraima is Boa Vista. A modern city, well designed, has ample avenues and green areas. Its population is: 242.179 inhabitants, according IBGE census of 2005.
Roraima, the most distant city from the center, is located 4.275 Km. from Brasilia and over 6.000 km from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It trades with Manaus, capital of Amazonas state, and with Bomfim city, in the ex English Guyana. By road, it is only connected with the mentioned cities, and by plane with the rest of the cities.

Tourist Attractive

The Maraca island is a biological reserve placed 120Km away from the north of Boa Vista, in Amajari municipality and was created in 1981.

This area comprises the Amazon jungle and the Cerrado (vast tropical savanna). Maraca occupies an area of 100.000 hectares approximately, has plain relief with some slopes in the middle of the island.

Tigers, tapirs, sea lions and other endangered species live in the island, making this place attractive, especially for scientists from different parts of the world.

The infrastructure in the island consists of inns, laboratories, libraries, dining rooms for the researchers that carry out its inquiries in the island.

If you have a project about environment, this is the perfect place to gain more knowledge. Maraca Island is probably the most studied reserve of the West Amazon. Several scientific works of extensive knowledge and detailed ecological studies makes possible to have a detailed research about the fauna, flora and other resources in the island.

It is ideal to visit Roraima during the summer season, after September.

The island can only be visited by scientists and specialists, since they can enter with authorization of IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Instituto Brasilero deEnvironment and Renewable Natural Resources)

Ibama: (95) 3224- 4011


How to arrive:

By plane:

BOA VISTA´S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Address: Capitain Ene Garcez Avenue, SN – Center – Boa Vista
Schedule: from 08:00 to 18:00, flight schedule/ Monday to Friday/ Saturday and Sunday
PHONE :( 95) 3623-9394/6629
FAX :( 95) 3623-9367
Airlines that have regular flights in Roraima: GOL, META and VARIG.

By road:

JOSÉ AMADOR DE OLIVEIRA – BATON INTERNATIONAL BUS STATION

Address: Das Guianas Avenue, SN – Center – Boa Vista
Schedule: 08:00 to 20:00 / Monday to Saturday
08:00 to 14:00 / Sunday