About
Amazonas
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Amazonas
is the largest of Brazil’s States and contains
the best-preserved tropical forest ecosystem of the
planet, Amazônia.
Its area of 1.5 million square Km is the equivalent
to 18% of the country's total area.
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It
lies in the Northern Region of South America, and is home
to some of the greatest variety of plants, animals, rivers
and minerals in the world.
The
State has received continuous international attention from
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and environmentalists
who want to ensure that rapid development does not further
harm this magnificent environment. Recently, Ecological
tourism has become a viable alternative for sustainable
development, and the State has pioneered the establishment
of jungle lodges in Brazil.
The
line of the Equator passes through the State, and the climate
is predominantly equatorial with plentiful rainfall throughout
the year. In the north of the state lies the highest point
in Brazil, Pico da Neblina, which rises to 3,014 meters.
Situated near the border with Venezuela, it is permanently
covered by clouds, giving it it's name, "clouded peak".
Among
the various protected areas of Amazonas, is the Janauarí
Ecological Park, a combination of firm land, flooded forests,
and marshes, where canoe trips can be taken to see the giant
water lilies, up to 6 feet in diameter, and other types
of flora and fauna. Amazonas is home to the Jaú National
Park, the largest forest reserve in South America, nearby
Anavilhanas, the largest river archipelago in the world.
The
state hosts one the biggest folklore festivals in Brazil:
the Parintins festival, held on an island in the middle
of the great river.
