Let's Go to Amazon!

Hi, Travelers!
When I was in High School I had the opportunity to travel to Manaus - AM - Brazil. Everything was wonderful but I hated the hot and humidity in the city. The typical culinary is delicious and there are so many type of fruits you can not find anywhere else.
Manaus it is a beautiful and modern city: the capital of the vast state of Amazonas and it is located in the middle of the largest Rainforest in the world: The Amazon Rainforest.
Surrounded by natural beauties and marked by the time of the Rubber Cycle ,the greater Manaus with more than 2,5 million inhabitants is home to one of the most modern industrial centers in Latin America. It is a great concentration of leading industries of the areas of electronics, two-wheeled vehicles, optical products, computer products, chemical industry, etc.

Aerial view of the city of Manaus (AM).

Things to do around:

1.Amazon Theater>"Teatro Amazonas":

It was built at the time of the Rubber Cycle, in the middle of the Amazon Rainforest, being a reference of the culture in the state and one of the most beautiful works.

"Teatro Amazonas", in Manaus (AM), inaugurated in 1896. From anywhere in the audience, in a lira format and perfect acoustics, when looking at the paintings on the ceiling, you have the impression of being under the Eiffel Tower. Gold, Venice Crystals and Carrara Marble were used in decoration

2. Ponta Negra Beach:

One of the main sights of the city and meeting point of people of all ages.
Built in the 90's, the Ponta Negra leisure complex modernized about 2 km from the edge of the Rio Negro (river), at the western end of the city, providing this space with sports courts, bars and various other services.

3. The Meeting of the Waters:

It is the encounter of two rivers Negro and Solimões, which form the Amazon river. The Negro River is dark water and the Solimões is muddy water, the explanation of the fact of being so clear the division of the two rivers is in the density, temperature and speed that are very different between them.

4. Amazon Jungle Expedition:
Anavilhanas Archipelago

This photo of Arquipelago de Anavilhanas is courtesy of TripAdvisor


This photo of Arquipelago de Anavilhanas is courtesy of TripAdvisor



This photo of Arquipelago de Anavilhanas is courtesy of TripAdvisor

One of the largest river archipelagos in the world, the Anavilhanas Ecological Station is made up of about 400 islets (very small islands). Access is by boat, on a trip that lasts about three hours. Companies in the region offer packages that include transportation, lunch and tour of the Rio Negro and waterfall bath.

5. Juma Amazon Lodge:
The Juma Amazon Lodge offers great features for a jungle hotel, combining your environmental concerns with comfort. There are eight bungalows overlooking the forest, twelve bungalows overlooking the Juma River and a panoramic bungalow. All have a balcony with hammock, bathroom with hot water generated by solar energy and fan (more than enough for the Amazonian night, cooler than in the city).
BUNGALOWS WITH VIEWS TO THE FOREST

BUNGALOWS WITH VIEWS TO THE JUMA RIVER

PANORAMIC BUNGALOW

We have tons of interesting things to show regards the Fauna, Flora and Gastronomy. The Amazon rainforest has one of the largest biodiversity in the world!

All the "Jungle" hotels offer packages that includes tours to see the animals in the wild and to know a little bit about the flora . They have boat tours trough the "Igarapés": flooded areas in the forest where you can get really closer to the wild animals and get see the beauty of the nature and to know more about the giants "Samaúmas Tree">It grows between 60-70 m in height and its trunk is very bulky, up to 3 m in diameter with buttresses. Some specimens reach 90 m in height, being therefore one of the largest trees of the world flora.
This tree can extract water from the depths of the Amazonian soil and bring not only to supply itself, but also to share with other species.

from website: http://www.caliandradocerrado.com.br/2009/05/rainha-da-floresta.html

You can observe wild animals during the tours as:
Jaguar > Onça Pintada:

from website:http://www.ninha.bio.br/biologia/onca.html

Black Jaguar > Onça Negra:

Sloth> Bicho Preguiça :

Macaco Barrigudo:

Macaco Parauacu Negro:

Red Macaw > Arara Vermelha:

Toucan > Tucano:

Parrot > Papagaio:

Tapir> Anta : The Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is a terrestrial mammal of the Tapiridae family. It is the largest mammal in South America. The females are generally larger, measuring up to 2 m in length, 1 m in height and weighing up to 300 kg. They are always close to the rivers because it is in them that she prefers to hide from predators. She's a great swimmer.
The tapirs have nocturnal habits, remaining hidden in the forest at night. They are herbivorous animals, feeding on fruits, leaves, grass, branches, shoots, stems, tree barks and aquatic plants.

South American Alligator > Jacaré:

Pink Dolphin: Boto-Cor-de-Rosa > It is a type of dolphin that lives in the rivers of the Amazon:The pink dolphin lives in the of the Amazonian rivers of Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Of all species of river dolphins, the boto is the largest: males can reach 2.5 meters in length, up to 200 kilos; The females, slightly smaller, can measure up to 2.2 meters and weigh 150 kilos on average. The pink boto is an endangered species. Their flesh and their leather are much sought after in the Amazon where they continue to be hunted. There are still people who hunt porpoises to make amulets with parts of their bodies, such as their eyes.from website: http://escola.britannica.com.br/article/487777/boto-cor-de-rosa

photo courtesy: http://escola.britannica.com.br/assembly/146858/O-boto-cor-de-rosa-e-um-tipo-de-golfinho

Photo courtesy:https://umpouquinhodecadalugar.com/

The Amazonian Manatee > Peixe-Boi:
The Amazon manatee is the smallest of the manatees in the world, ranging from 2.8 to 3.0 meters in length and weighing up to 450 kilograms. Its dark gray leather is thick and strong. Most individuals have a white spot in the ventral region. This feature, along with the absence of nails in the pectoral fins, helps to distinguish it from the manatee and the African manatee. The Amazon manatee is also the only one that lives exclusively in freshwater, and can be found in all the rivers of the Amazon Basin.

During the first two years of life they live with their mothers and still feed on milk

Vitória-Régia > Victoria amazonica:

It has a large circle-shaped leaf that sits on the surface of the water, and can reach up to 2.5 meters in diameter and can withstand up to 40 kilos if well distributed on its surface
Vitória-Régia Flower:

Plant whose fragrant and white flowers only open at night, and at sunrise they become pink.

About Fish:The Amazon region gathers about 3,000 species of fish, but not all are commercially exploited. Many of the Amazonian fish feed on the fruits that fall in the rivers and this way help to spread the seeds and consequently in the multiplication and renewal of the forest.

The Poraquê: Eletric fish, can reach up to 2 meters long. It produces a violent, high voltage electric discharge lean against the trees of the igapós, where the electric shock is so strong that the trees tremble and overturn the fruits from which it feeds.

Photo courtesy: http://www.viajeaqui.abril.com.br

Aruanã: The characteristic of Aruanã is to feed on live prey out of the water.

Photo courtesy:: http://www.pro.casa.abril.com.br

Tucunaré: Typical dishes made with this fish: Caldeirada de Tucunaré (kind of soup),Fried Tucunaré.

Photo courtesy: http://www.riverplatepesca.com.br/sites/default/files/pics/P1000082-Celso.jpg

Tambaqui: It may reach more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in total length and 40 kg (88 lb) in total weight. Dishes: Tambaqui na Brasa(Grilled Tambaqui) and Caldeirada de Tambaqui (kind of soup of Tambaqui).

Photo courtesy By Rufus46 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36213773

Piranha: Although the piranhas have a reputation for being evil attacking at any time, there is not much evidence on this. The danger arises when the water level is low, the prey is scarce or the river bath disturbs its spawning. Basically, it is only when the fish really feel threatened or very hungry that they become more aggressive.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.megacurioso.com.br/animais/45069-conheca-algumas-curiosidades-sobre-as-piranhas-os-peixes.htm

To talk about all the fauna and flora and typical dishes we would have about 100 pages of information here. I'm only mentioning few of them.

Tacacá: This soup has a broth made with tucupi sauce and gum (tapioca flour), to break the acidity. The leaves of jambu add a special touch, as it anesthesia slightly the mouth. To complete the recipe, salted shrimps can not be missing.

Photo by Tricia Vieira

Pirarucu:
The pirarucu is called "Amazon cod". The large fish, which can reach 3 meters in length, is consumed grilled, in the moqueca and even as a good appetizer(photo)or appetizer to accompany a beer.

Photo courtesy :http://viajeaqui.abril.com.br/materias/12-delicias-da-amazonia#3

Typical Fruits:
Guaraná:

Has a caffeine-like substance (guaiac), because of this stimulating property is used for the manufacture of syrups, bars, powders and sodas.

Cupuaçu :

It is a tropical fruit it provides several health benefits. In addition, Cupuaçu is a delicious fruit with a creamy white flesh. Cupuaçu grows in the Amazon Rainforest in northern Brazil. Trees usually grow about 5 to 15 meters high. Grains behave as excellent alternatives to cocoa because they offer exactly the same antioxidant qualities.
Photo courtesy of: http://formasaudavel.com.br/cupuacu/

Açaí :

Can be consumed in several ways: juices, sweets, ice creams and jellies. The açaí is consumed in general in the bowl, where the pulp is accompanied by fruits and even other foods. In the Amazon region, the pulp of the açaí is very consumed with cassava flour or tapioca. The fruit is a great natural energetic.Rich in vitamins E, B1, B2, B3 and C, fibers, calcium, phosphorus, iron, minerals and potassium, besides fatty acids, the açaí has ​​pigments that give the fruit that intense purple color and these have antioxidant ingredients And, so nutritious, make it one of the healthiest foods in our days.

Photos courtesy of: http://www.arara.fr/BBACAI.html

Tucumã: The Tucumã, fruit of an Amazonian palm, with sticky, fruity pulp rich in vitamin A, having vitamin 90 times more than avocado and 3 times superior to that of carrot, also possessing high content of vitamin B (thiamine) and high content of Vitamin C. Indigenous people use the leaves of the palm tree to make arches ropes, nets for fishing and for sleeping. From the wood, hard and resistant, they do many things, besides using the oil of the pulp and the almond, which besides being comestible, they use it to anoint body and hair.

In the capital of Amazonas, Manaus, the consumption of tucumã is great. Very well known, the X caboquinho, bread sandwich with tucumã chips, French bread and cheese curd, makes the joy of the manauaras in the markets, snacks and bakeries of the city.
from website:http://www.portalamazonia.com.br/amazoniadeaz/interna.php?id=50

I will not be able to cover in one single post all the wonders about Amazon: it is a magical land! Let's finalize with some pictures of The Dessana Tucana Tribe :

The tribe has beautiful crafts and loves to welcome people from outside. No wonder: they rely on tourism to survive.

from website:http://mochilando.com.br/como-conhecer-uma-tribo-indigena-na-amazonia/