|
The Largest State
Amazonas is the underpopulated giant among Brazilian states: with a land area of 1,564,445 square kilometers it is larger than Germany, Holland France and the Iberian peninsula put together, but has a population of only 2.5 million, half of which is concentrated in the capital city of Manaus. The state's economic base consists of the newly built industries in the duty-free zone near Manaus, metals such as tin and gold, and commercial fishing and agriculture. Meat processing and dairy farming are important economic mainstays, as are pineapples, cassava, rice and corn. Owing to increasing worldwide interest in the protection of the rain forest, ecotourism has also become a significant source of revenue.
The main problem faced by the region is its infrastructure. Both people and freight are transported mainly by river, and the only north-south link is from Porto Velho, the capital of Rondonia, via Manaus to Boa Vista (the capital of the northernmost state of Roraima), and from there to Venezuela. In the rainy season, the Transamazonica to Belem is impassable, and during the rest of the year is only marginally so, which is why so many travelers forego driving and opt instead for the long boat ride up the Amazon. The riverine distance from Manaus to Belem is 1,700 kilometers, but overland it is 3,445 dusty, solitary and seemingly endless kilometers. There are also daily flights from Manaus to Brasilia, Rio, Salvador, Belem and other Brazilian cities, as well as to Iquitos (Peru), Santa Cruz (Bolivia), Caracas (Venezuela) and Miami (USA). |
