Amapá
Encyclopedia
Amapá is one of the states of Brazil
, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana
and Suriname
to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean
, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará
. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque
, as it was once considered the northernmost point of Brazil. The river's estuary is at the extreme north of the Brazilian coast, and it is often used to describe the remote points of Brazil
. The dominant landscape of the region—90 percent of the total area—is the huge Amazon Rainforest
. Unexplored forests occupy 70 percent of its territory. Another attraction is the equator, which divides not only the state but also the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The only way to reach the state's capital and largest city Macapá
is by boat
or airplane.
and Dutch
, who were repelled by the Portuguese
. The Treaty of Utrecht
in 1713 established the boundaries between Brazil and French Guiana
, but these were not respected by the French. In the 18th century, France retook control of the area. This dispute would continue until 1900.
With the discovery of gold
and the increasing value of rubber on the international market during the 19th century, which led to population increases in Amapá, the territorial dispute with France was brought to a head; finally, on December 1, 1900, the Arbitration Commission of Geneva ceded possession of the territory to Brazil, which incorporated it into the state of Pará
with the joint name of Araguari (named for the river of the same name
). It became the federal territory of Amapá in 1943.
The discovery of rich manganese
deposits in Serra do Navio
in 1945 revolutionized the local economy, but Amapá did not achieve statehood until October 5, 1988, with the promulgation of the new Brazilian Constitution
.
in which there is no dry season
—all months have mean precipitation
values of at least 60 mm. It is usually found at latitude
s 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.
The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforest
s 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.
of 2007, there were 619,000 people residing in the state with a population density of 4.3/km².
Urbanization
: 93.7% (2006); Population growth
: 5.7% (1991–2000); House
s: 144,000 (2006).
The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 429,000 Brown (Multiracial) people (69.4%), 148,000 White
people (24.0%), 40,000 Black
people (6.5%), 6,000 Asian
or Amerindian
people (1.0%).
represents 4.6% of GDP (2004). Amapá exports: wood
75.5%, ore
s 18.7%, heart of palm
5.5% (2002).
Share of the Brazilian economy: 0.2% (2005).
is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. There is also a creole language spoken called Lanc-Patuá
.
will start work on the new Macapá International Airport
, which will contain 17,000 square meters of space to serve 700,000 passengers a year. The current airport, with an area of 2,900 square meters, operates annually with 324,000 passenger
s. The work, scheduled for conclusion in 30 months, will enlarge the parking lot to 258 spots against the current 80 and expand the total area from 2,400 to 11,000 square meters. The apron area will be increased from its current area of 21,000 square meters to 30,000 square meters, with capacity for four large airplanes and 30 small aircraft.
Before 1984 the state had a red-white-red flag very similar to the flag of Peru
.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
and Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque
Oyapock River
The Oyapock or Oiapoque River is a 370-km long river in South America that forms most of the border between French Guiana and the Brazilian state of Amapá...
, as it was once considered the northernmost point of Brazil. The river's estuary is at the extreme north of the Brazilian coast, and it is often used to describe the remote points of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The dominant landscape of the region—90 percent of the total area—is the huge Amazon Rainforest
Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon Rainforest , also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America...
. Unexplored forests occupy 70 percent of its territory. Another attraction is the equator, which divides not only the state but also the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The only way to reach the state's capital and largest city Macapá
Macapá
Macapá is a Brazilian city, capital of Amapá state. Located in the North Region, it is the only state capital that has no highway connections with other capitals...
is by boat
Boat
A boat is a watercraft of any size designed to float or plane, to provide passage across water. Usually this water will be inland or in protected coastal areas. However, boats such as the whaleboat were designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. In naval terms, a boat is a...
or airplane.
History
As the "Capitania" of Costa do Cabo Norte, the region was invaded by the EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, who were repelled by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. The Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Utrecht
The Treaty of Utrecht, which established the Peace of Utrecht, comprises a series of individual peace treaties, rather than a single document, signed by the belligerents in the War of Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht in March and April 1713...
in 1713 established the boundaries between Brazil and French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
, but these were not respected by the French. In the 18th century, France retook control of the area. This dispute would continue until 1900.
With the discovery of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
and the increasing value of rubber on the international market during the 19th century, which led to population increases in Amapá, the territorial dispute with France was brought to a head; finally, on December 1, 1900, the Arbitration Commission of Geneva ceded possession of the territory to Brazil, which incorporated it into the state of Pará
Pará
Pará is a state in the north of Brazil. It borders the Brazilian states of Amapá, Maranhão, Tocantins, Mato Grosso, Amazonas and Roraima. To the northwest it also borders Guyana and Suriname, and to the northeast it borders the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Belém.Pará is the most populous state...
with the joint name of Araguari (named for the river of the same name
Araguari River (Amapá)
Araguari River is the primary river of Amapá state in north-eastern Brazil.Araguari River is the primary river of Amapá state in north Brazil.-References:*...
). It became the federal territory of Amapá in 1943.
The discovery of rich manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
deposits in Serra do Navio
Serra do Navio
Serra do Navio is a municipality located in the center of the state of Amapá in Brazil. Its population is 3,724 and its area is 7,757 km²....
in 1945 revolutionized the local economy, but Amapá did not achieve statehood until October 5, 1988, with the promulgation of the new Brazilian Constitution
Constitution of Brazil
During its independent political history, Brazil has had seven constitutions. The most recent was ratified on October 5, 1988.-Imperial Constitution :Background...
.
Geography
The State of Amapá also possesses the lowest rate of loss of its original vegetation for any Brazilian state at only 2%. Most of the Amapá territory is covered with forest, while the remaining areas are covered with savannah and plains. On the Amapá coast, almost intact beaches mix with swamps, creating the largest representation of this biome in Brazil, and this mixture of salt and fresh water is perfect for the food chain reproduction for several animal species.Climate
An equatorial climate is a type of tropical climateTropical climate
A tropical climate is a climate of the tropics. In the Köppen climate classification it is a non-arid climate in which all twelve months have mean temperatures above...
in which there is no dry season
Dry season
The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which oscillates from the northern to the southern tropics over the course of the year...
—all months have mean precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
values of at least 60 mm. It is usually found at latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
s within five degrees of the equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
, which are dominated by the Intertropical Convergence Zone
Intertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
. The equatorial climate is denoted Af in the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
. Tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
is the natural vegetation in equatorial regions.
Vegetation
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
s and comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest
Tropical rainforest
A tropical rainforest is an ecosystem type that occurs roughly within the latitudes 28 degrees north or south of the equator . This ecosystem experiences high average temperatures and a significant amount of rainfall...
in the world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
. Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
, and tropical forests in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
are consistently more species-rich than the wet forests in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
. More than 1/3 of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest.
Demographics
According to the IBGEIBGE
The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics or IBGE , is the agency responsible for statistical, geographic, cartographic, geodetic and environmental information in Brazil...
of 2007, there were 619,000 people residing in the state with a population density of 4.3/km².
Urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
: 93.7% (2006); Population growth
Population growth
Population growth is the change in a population over time, and can be quantified as the change in the number of individuals of any species in a population using "per unit time" for measurement....
: 5.7% (1991–2000); House
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
s: 144,000 (2006).
The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 429,000 Brown (Multiracial) people (69.4%), 148,000 White
White Brazilian
White Brazilians make up 48.4% of Brazil's population, or around 92 million people, according to the IBGE's 2008 PNAD . Whites are present in the entire territory of Brazil, although the main concentrations are found in the South and Southeastern parts of the country...
people (24.0%), 40,000 Black
Afro-Brazilian
In Brazil, the term "preto" is one of the five categories used by the Brazilian Census, along with "branco" , "pardo" , "amarelo" and "indígena"...
people (6.5%), 6,000 Asian
Asian Brazilian
An Asian Brazilian is is a Brazilian citizen of full or partial Asian ancestry, who remains culturally connected to Asia, or an Asian-born person permanently residing in Brazil. Brazil received many immigrants from Asia, both from Middle East and East Asia...
or Amerindian
Indigenous peoples in Brazil
The Indigenous peoples in Brazil comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the country prior to the European invasion around 1500...
people (1.0%).
Economy
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 87.6%, followed by the industrial sector at 7.8%. AgricultureAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
represents 4.6% of GDP (2004). Amapá exports: wood
Wood
Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. It is an organic material, a natural composite of cellulose fibers embedded in a matrix of lignin which resists compression...
75.5%, ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
s 18.7%, heart of palm
Heart of palm
Heart of palm, also called palm heart, palmito, burglar's thigh, chonta, palm cabbage or swamp cabbage, is a vegetable harvested from the inner core and growing bud of certain palm trees Heart of palm, also called palm heart, palmito, burglar's thigh, chonta, palm cabbage or swamp cabbage, is a...
5.5% (2002).
Share of the Brazilian economy: 0.2% (2005).
Education
PortuguesePortuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. There is also a creole language spoken called Lanc-Patuá
Lanc-Patuá
Lanc-Patuá is a creole language spoken in the state of Amapá in Brazil, primarily now around the capital, Macapá. It is a French-based creole language, spoken by local Indians and immigrants from French Guiana, the Caribbean and other areas of Brazil, and their descendants...
.
Educational institutions
- Universidade Federal do AmapáUniversidade Federal do AmapáThe Universidade Federal do Amapá is a Brazilian public institution which is located in Macapá, Brazil.-External links:*...
(Unifap) (Federal University of Amapá); - Centro de Ensino Superior do Amapá (Ceap);
- Instituto de Ensino Superior do Amapá (Iesap);
- Instituto Macapaense de Ensino Superior (Immes);
- and many others.
International Airport
The state of Amapá will soon have a new airport. InfraeroInfraero
Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária, Infraero in short, is a Brazilian government corporation created in 1972 and responsible for operating the main Brazilian commercial airports. In 2009, Infraero's airports carried 128,135,616 passengers and 1,114,754 tons of cargo and operated...
will start work on the new Macapá International Airport
Macapá International Airport
Macapá-Alberto Alcolumbre International Airport is the airport serving Macapá, Brazil. Since April 22, 2009 the airport is named after Alberto Alcolumbre, a local businessman.It is operated by Infraero.-History:The airport was opened in 1970....
, which will contain 17,000 square meters of space to serve 700,000 passengers a year. The current airport, with an area of 2,900 square meters, operates annually with 324,000 passenger
Passenger
A passenger is a term broadly used to describe any person who travels in a vehicle, but bears little or no responsibility for the tasks required for that vehicle to arrive at its destination....
s. The work, scheduled for conclusion in 30 months, will enlarge the parking lot to 258 spots against the current 80 and expand the total area from 2,400 to 11,000 square meters. The apron area will be increased from its current area of 21,000 square meters to 30,000 square meters, with capacity for four large airplanes and 30 small aircraft.
Flag
The flag was adopted by decree No. 008 of April 23, 1984. The blue on top symbolizes the sky over Amapá and justice, the green represents the native rainforest, and the yellow at the bottom stands for the Union and its natural resources. The black in the small stripes stands for the deceased who worked for the state, and the white for the will of the state to live in peace and stability. The symbol at the left symbolizes the Fortress of São José, out of which the state capital grew.Before 1984 the state had a red-white-red flag very similar to the flag of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
See also
- BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
- CalçoeneCalçoeneCalçoene is a municipality located in the eastern of the state of Amapá in Brazil. Its population is 7,208 and its area is 14,269 km². There was a Russian émigrés colony in its area in the first decades of 20th century...
- Amapá town, site of pre-colonial observatory