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- Amazonas:
Official website: http://www.amazonas.am.gov.br
Capital: Manaus
Area: 1,577,820 km2
Important cities: Manaus, Manacapuru, Tefé, Parintins and Itacoatiara
Economy: minerals, eco-tourism, trading (there is a tax free zone in Manaus), fishing
Climate in Manaus, Amazonas
Important newspapers: A Crítica
Amazonas is the biggest Brazilian state in territory; this state is bigger than most countries in the world.
The state is almost entirely covered by the Amazon forest, the richest bio-diversity in the world. Several species of fauna and flora are found nowhere in the world but here.
Besides world famous river Amazonas (the Nilo is the longest river in the world, but Amazonas is by far the largest in water volume), there are several other important rivers
in the state: Juruá, Purus, Madeira, Negro, Içá, Solimões, Uaupés, Japurá and others.
The state presents the highest lands in Brazil (including the highest mountain in Brazil is the Pico da Neblina, 3,014 m) and the largest extension of low lands
(under 100m), which covers most of the Amazon jungle.
In the beginning of 20th century, the region had an economic boom because of the rubber cycle. The automotive industry was growing fast, and the tires of the cars were
built with rubber from Amazon trees. At the time, Manaus became one of the richest Brazilian cities, and many big buildings and monuments, like the Opera House (one of the
best in Brazil), date back to those years.
Today, Manaus has a Free Tax Zone; industries established here are exempt from several taxes. The idea was an attempt to bring jobs and technology to the area, but the
incentives have not been enough to attract investments lately.
Click here to read more about the Amazon.
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