Macapa Attractions
Macapá
Macapá, capital of the territory of Amapá and a river port, lies on the northernmost and largest arm of the Amazon delta, opposite the Marajó archipelago. The town can be reached from Belém by air or boat.
Praça Veiga Cabral
Aeroporto Internacional de Macapá
History
In the late 17th century Macapá was the scene of fighting between the French who were occupying Guyana and the Portuguese in Brazil, who had established mission stations and the fort of Santo Antìnio de Macapá (1688). In 1713, under the treaty of Utrecht, France recognized the Rio Oiapoque as the boundary between their possessions and those of Portugal. The settlement which grew up round the fort of Santo Antìnio was granted the status of a vila in 1758, during the reign of Dom José I, and renamed São José de Macapá.
Macapá, capital of the territory of Amapá and a river port, lies on the northernmost and largest arm of the Amazon delta, opposite the Marajó archipelago. The town can be reached from Belém by air or boat.
Praça Veiga Cabral
Aeroporto Internacional de Macapá
History
In the late 17th century Macapá was the scene of fighting between the French who were occupying Guyana and the Portuguese in Brazil, who had established mission stations and the fort of Santo Antìnio de Macapá (1688). In 1713, under the treaty of Utrecht, France recognized the Rio Oiapoque as the boundary between their possessions and those of Portugal. The settlement which grew up round the fort of Santo Antìnio was granted the status of a vila in 1758, during the reign of Dom José I, and renamed São José de Macapá.
Fort São José de Macapá
Fort São José de Macapá
Fort São José de Macapá, built between 1764 and 1784 on a tongue of land reaching out into the Amazon, now lies close to the town center. The stone used to build the fort came from Portugal as ships' ballast.
Fort São José de Macapá, built between 1764 and 1784 on a tongue of land reaching out into the Amazon, now lies close to the town center. The stone used to build the fort came from Portugal as ships' ballast.
São José
São José de Macapá
On Praça Veiga Cabral is the church of São José de Macapá, built in 1761, when increasing numbers of Portuguese were settling in the region.
On Praça Veiga Cabral is the church of São José de Macapá, built in 1761, when increasing numbers of Portuguese were settling in the region.
Macapa Surroundings
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Parque Nacional do Cabo Orange - Pororoca
Pororoca refers to the point where the waters of the Amazon combine with the Atlantic in a dramatic and noisy clash. The phenomenon is experienced along several points of the Amazon estuary.
Equator Marker
Equator
The Equator, marked by "Marco Zero" (0° of latitude), runs 5km/3mi south of the town center. It can be reached on the Juscelino Kubitschek expressway.
The Equator, marked by "Marco Zero" (0° of latitude), runs 5km/3mi south of the town center. It can be reached on the Juscelino Kubitschek expressway.
Lago Piratuba
Lago Piratuba
The Lago Piratuba nature reserve covers an area of 385,000 hectares/962,500 acres in the commune of Amapá, on the east coast of the state. It is bounded by the Rio Araguari, which here flows into the Atlantic.
The Lago Piratuba nature reserve covers an area of 385,000 hectares/962,500 acres in the commune of Amapá, on the east coast of the state. It is bounded by the Rio Araguari, which here flows into the Atlantic.
Mazagao, Brazil
Mazagão
The coastal town of Mazagão to the south of Macapá is linked with it by the Juscelino Kubitschek expressway and by a ferry service from Porto de Santana. Its principal sight is the 30m/100ft high waterfall of Santo Antìnio.
The coastal town of Mazagão to the south of Macapá is linked with it by the Juscelino Kubitschek expressway and by a ferry service from Porto de Santana. Its principal sight is the 30m/100ft high waterfall of Santo Antìnio.
Mazagao Velho, Brazil
Mazagão Velho
Rather farther inland is Mazagão Velho, a village established in the 17th century which has preserved a few buildings of the colonial period and some traditional customs, such as the Festas de São Gonçalo on January 6th-10th and the Festa de São Tiago (St James) in July, with a procession, equestrian games and a masked ball.
Rather farther inland is Mazagão Velho, a village established in the 17th century which has preserved a few buildings of the colonial period and some traditional customs, such as the Festas de São Gonçalo on January 6th-10th and the Festa de São Tiago (St James) in July, with a procession, equestrian games and a masked ball.
Parque Nacional do Cabo Orange
Parque Nacional do Cabo Orange
In the far north of Amapá, beginning at Oiapoque Bay, is the Cabo Orange National Park (area 619,000 hectares/1,550,000 acres; established 1980), which extends south along the coast in the communes of Oiapoque and Caláoene. It can be reached on BR 156, which links Macapá with Oiapoque and Clevelândia do Norte, on the frontier with French Guiana, or by boat from Macapá or Porto Santana.
In the far north of Amapá, beginning at Oiapoque Bay, is the Cabo Orange National Park (area 619,000 hectares/1,550,000 acres; established 1980), which extends south along the coast in the communes of Oiapoque and Caláoene. It can be reached on BR 156, which links Macapá with Oiapoque and Clevelândia do Norte, on the frontier with French Guiana, or by boat from Macapá or Porto Santana.
Porto de Santana, Brazil
Porto de Santana
From Porto de Santana, 28km/17mi south of Macapá, there are a variety of boat trips, for example to the islands in the Amazon (including the Ilha de Marajó), in the igaparés, the narrow channels between these islands, and northward to the Oiapoque area on the frontier with French Guiana.
From Porto de Santana, 28km/17mi south of Macapá, there are a variety of boat trips, for example to the islands in the Amazon (including the Ilha de Marajó), in the igaparés, the narrow channels between these islands, and northward to the Oiapoque area on the frontier with French Guiana.
