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Manaus
Manaus is a modern city with every convenience, luxury and problem that the 20th Century has to offer – but outside it is surrounded by the huge Amazon rainforest. It just takes a short boatride to deliver you into the middle of wild and remote jungle. There are few roads going out of the city, so the best way to get into and out of the city by boat or by plane. Some important points about the city are:
Discovery and History
By 1912, the city had swelled to over 50,000 people as more workers flocked to the city, fleeing droughts and shortages in Brazil's north-east. They all hoped to make their fortunes from the Rubber Boom. But unfortunately, few workers ever managed to make any money – they were poor and uneducated, and they were easily cheated out of their earnings by the owners of the companies. The owners became destitute themselves, and lost their money when the rubber boom crashed. Manaus has had lots of "booms" and "busts", including another rubber boom during World War II. The second rubber boom was when Malaysia was occupied by the Japanese army, cutting the Allies off from the Malaysian rubber plantations. The Brazilian government ma d Manaus was made a duty-free port in 1967 in an effort to attract settlers from other parts of Brazil and to develop the area. Duty-free status means that imported goods in Manaus can be purchased much more cheaply than in other parts of Brazil because they are free from expensive taxes. Foreign companies are also able to establish factories and operate tax-free for a number of years. Major local industries include shipbuilding, oil refining and chemicals production, and electronics manufacture. Other exports include ornamental fish taken from the Rio Negro (did you ever wonder where the fish in your aquarium came from?). In recent years, tourism has also become significant. ClimateLike most other areas in Amaz⌠nia, Manaus is hot and humid – with an average rainfall of over two metres. There is no summer or winter – just a wet and a dry season. The wet season lasts from January to June, and a brief but heavy shower of rain is almost guaranteed every day. Temperatures range from 23░C to 30░C. The dry season lasts from July to December, and temperatures range from 26░C to 37░C. PeopleThe people of Manaus are a broad mixture. While most of the Indian settlements around Manaus were obliterated by European settlers centuries ago, their descendents live on in the mixed-blood caboclos. Caboclos are of mixed race, decended from the European settlers, Indians, and African slaves who have all inhabited Amaz⌠nia since colonial days. Several of the people that I ran into had very strong Indian features. There is some risk of crime in Manaus, but overall the people are very friendly and helpful. Most of the people are poor by New Zealand standards, and don't have fancy houses. It is much more common for people in the cities to live in big apartment blocks. However, the people here are much better off than Brazil's impoverished north-east. Curiously, most Brazilians like to have new cars, so save for many years until they can afford to buy one. There are no used-imported Japanese cars like in New Zealand, but there are many new Volkwagen Golfs, Fiats, Renaults, Chevrolet (Holden) Vectras being driven on the roads. Manaus has its own favela (shantytown), but it isn't as big as others elsewhere in Brazil. Economic measures taken by the Brazilian and State governments are encouraging people to move to Amazonas from other places in Brazil. Places of InterestAt first look, Manaus seems a little boring. Most recent buildings are ugly box-like concrete structures, which soon look run-down and shabby. But if you take some time to explore, there are plenty of interesting things to see and do.
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Manaus
is Amaz⌠nia's largest city – it has over a million
people, and is a busy river port which services ships
from all over the world (they arrive by ocean, then sail
upriver to Manaus). The city is located near the meeting
of the Solim⌡es and Rio Negro rivers – 1,500 km
from the Atlantic coast.
Manaus was originally the home
of the Manau Indians. The first European settlement was
established in 1669 with the building of a small fort
called Sπo Jose da Barra. This settlement remained very
remote and little known until the rubber boom shot it to
worldwide prominence in the 19th century. By the end of
the 19th century it was a city with over 20,000 people,
it had an extravagant European-style opera house, smart
buildings and restaurants, paved roads, electric trams,
more than 300 telephone subscribers, and a port from
where shipments of rubber were exported while incoming
ships arrived carrying beautiful women and rich bankers
from the United States and Europe.
British Customs
House (AlfΓndega). This is another
prefabricated building imported during the rubber
boom. The former customs house was designed and
built in Britain, with the blocks then being
imported and assembled at the entrance to
Manaus's docks.
Floating docks
(Porto Flutuante). The huge changes in
the river during the seasons created problems for
the engineers designing Manaus' docks. The river
rises more than 12 metres during the wet season,
then falls again during the dry season. The
floating docks were considered a technological
marvel when they were installed in 1906 because
they change with the river level, and take
anything from oceanliners to canoes. The docks
are an interesting place to visit because it is a
good place to see riverboats being loaded and
unloaded with huge cargos of exotic goods and
people.