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Amapá

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Amapá is a state located in the North Region of Brazil.

It occupies a far northern position within the country. The state shares a 730 km border with French Guiana to the north. To the northwest, it meets Suriname for a distance of 63 km. The Atlantic Ocean forms its eastern boundary for 578 km. To the south and west, it is bordered by the state of Pará. Amapá is the eighteenth-largest state in Brazil by area. However, it is the second-least populous state in the nation. The capital and largest city is Macapá.

Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá
Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá

The landscape of Amapá is defined by the Amazon rainforest. This massive forest covers 90 percent of the state's total area. Interestingly, 70 percent of these forests remain unexplored. One of the most significant natural sites is the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park. Established in 2002, it is the largest tropical forest park in the world.

Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Amapá, 2001-2024
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Amapá, 2001-2024

The state also maintains a very low rate of vegetation loss. Only 2 percent of the original vegetation has been lost. This makes Amapá one of the best-preserved states in Brazil.

The climate in the region is primarily a tropical monsoon climate.

Amapá Köppen
Amapá Köppen

In the Köppen climate classification system, this is labeled as Am. This type of climate features heavy rainfall for most of the year. There is only a short dry season between the wet periods. This moisture supports the tropical rainforest vegetation. Along the coast, the environment changes to include beaches and swamps. These areas mix salt and fresh water. This mixture creates a unique biome that serves as a nursery for many animal species.

The history of Amapá is marked by colonial disputes and resource discovery. During the colonial period, the region was known as Portuguese Guiana. It was part of Portugal's State of Brazil. Early settlers exported lumber, resins, annatto, vegetable oils, and salted fish to Europe. The French also established sugarcane plantations in the area. Conflicts arose over mineral deposits and borders. The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 set boundaries with French Guiana, but these were often ignored. To project power, the Portuguese built a fort at São José de Macapá.

Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá
Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá

International tensions increased during the 19th century. The discovery of gold and the rising value of rubber brought more people to the region. French settlers even established the Republic of Independent Guyana between 1886 and 1891. Brazil eventually settled the dispute through international arbitration in Geneva. On 1 December 1900, the decision was made in favor of Brazil. The region was then incorporated into the state of Pará as Araguari. In 1943, it became the federal territory of Amapá. A major economic shift occurred in 1945 with the discovery of manganese in Serra do Navio. This mineral remains a primary source of revenue today.

Modern Amapá transitioned to full statehood on 5 October 1988. This happened during the creation of the new Brazilian Constitution. The first state legislators began their work on 1 January 1991. Today, the state has a population of 733,759 people according to the 2022 census. The population is highly urbanized, with 93.7 percent living in Macapá and Santana. Most residents identify as Pardo, which is 65.3 percent of the population. The economy is driven largely by the service sector, which accounts for 87.6 percent of the GDP. The industrial sector follows at 7.8 percent.

Indigenous cultures remain an important part of the region's identity. Several tribes live in Amapá, including the Wayampi and the Galibi do Oiapoque. The Wayampi live in the east within their own territory. Other groups include the Karipuna do Amapá, the Palikur, and the Galibi Marwono.

Dia do Índio no Manga Amapá Brazil
Dia do Índio no Manga Amapá Brazil

These indigenous territories and other protected areas cover 72 percent of the state. This includes the Cabo Orange National Park, which protects vital mangrove forests. Education in the state is conducted in Portuguese. However, French is also taught in every school due to the proximity of French Guiana. Some residents also speak a Creole language called Lanc-Patuá.

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🖼️ Images & Media (5)
File:Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José de Macapá.JPG
Visata de dentro da Fortaleza de São José...
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Amapá, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Amapá Köppen.svg
Amapá Köppen.svg
File:Dia do Índio no Manga Amapá Brazil.jpg
Dia do Índio no Manga Amapá Brazil.jpg
Estado-do-Amapa-Mapa-Escolar-IBGE-Brasil.pdf
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