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Macapá

Coordinates:0°0′0″N51°3′59″W/ 0.00000°N 51.06639°W/0.00000; -51.06639
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Macapá
Municipality
Municipality of Macapá
From the top, clockwise: Marco Zero of Ecuador; Floriano Peixoto Square; Main Church of São José de Macapá; Fortress of São José de Macapá; Trapiche Eliezer Levy and Central Market; Rim of Macapá; city center view.
From the top, clockwise:Marco Zero of Ecuador; Floriano Peixoto Square; Main Church of São José de Macapá; Fortress of São José de Macapá; Trapiche Eliezer Levy and Central Market; Rim of Macapá; city center view.
Flag of Macapá
Flag
Official seal of Macapá
Seal
Nickname:
"A Capital do Meio do Mundo"("The Capital of the Middle of the World")
Motto(s):
"Macapá, cidade forte"("Macapá, fortress city")
Location of Macapá in the State of Amapá
Location of Macapá in theState of Amapá
Macapá is located in Brazil
Macapá
Macapá
Location in Brazil
Coordinates:0°0′0″N51°3′59″W/ 0.00000°N 51.06639°W/0.00000; -51.06639
CountryBrazil
RegionNorth
StateAmapá
FoundedFebruary 4, 1758
Government
•MayorAntônio Furlan (Cidadania)
Area
• Total6,407.12 km2(2,473.80 sq mi)
Elevation
12 m (39 ft)
Population
(2020 est.)[1]
• Total512,902
• Density80/km2(210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3(BRT)
Postal code
68900-001 a 68914-999
Area code+55 96
HDI(2010)0.733 –high[2]
Websitewww.macapa-ap.br

Macapá(Portuguese pronunciation:[makaˈpa](listenⓘ)is a city inBrazilwith a population of 512,902 (2020 estimate),[3]and is the capital ofAmapástate in the country'sNorth Region,located on the northern channel of theAmazon Deltanear its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean. The city is on a small plateau on the Amazon in the southeast of the state of Amapá. The only access by road from outside the province is from theoverseasFrenchdepartmentofFrench Guiana,although there are regular ferries toBelém,Brazil.Macapá is linked by road with some other cities in Amapá. Theequatorruns through the middle of the city, leading residents to refer to Macapá as "The capital of the middle of the world."It covers 6,407.12 square kilometres (2,473.80 sq mi) and is located northwest of the large inland island ofMarajóand south of the border withFrench Guiana.[4][5]

History

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Macapá, 1968.National Archives of Brazil.

Macapá is a corruption of theTupiwordmacapaba,or "place of manybacabas",the fruit of the local palm tree. The SpaniardFrancisco de Orellanaclaimed the region in 1544 and called itNueva Andalucía(NewAndalusia).[6]The modern town began as the base of a Portuguese military detachment, stationed there in 1738. On February 4, 1758, Sebastião Veiga Cabral, the illegitimate child of the military governor ofTrás-os-Montes,Sebastião Veiga Cabral, founded the town of São José de Macapá, under the authority of the governor ofPará,Francisco Xavier de Mendonça Furtado. The fortress of São Joselito de Macapá was first laid out in 1764, but took 18 years to complete, due to illness among the Indian workers, and numerous escapes made by black slaves.[6]Macapá experienced an intense hurricane in the Summer of 1811 causing extensive damage to the fortifications there but leaving much of the city intact. Around 1834 Macapá a strange, month-long storm caused flooding upwards of six inches a day for the region. Macapá was elevated to city status in 1854.[4]

Macapá gained international notoriety in December 2001 when international yachtsmanPeter Blake,from New Zealand, was murdered while anchored on his explorer yachtSeamasterin Macapá port.[7]According toBusiness Insider,Macapá is the 69th most violent city in the world, with 26.06 homicides per 100,000 people.[8]

Demography

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Macapá has a population of 499,163 in itsmetropolitan area,the 3rd largest in the North Region. The city alone accounts for sixty percent of the population of state of Amapá and 3.50% of the population of the entire northern region of Brazil. According to the 2010 census, the city has a population of 397,913, of which 97.92% live in urban areas and 2.08% live in rural districts. With an area of 6,563 square kilometres (2,534 sq mi), the population density of Macapá is approximately 60.62 inhabitants per km2.

Transportation

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Macapá has a few roads to other cities in Brazil but is mainly connected to the rest of the country by air and sea. Macapá is located 345 kilometres (214 mi) fromBelém,but the cities are separated by the large inland island ofMarajóand have no direct highway connections; the city is accessible only by boat or airplane.[5]Macapá is connected toFrench Guianaby the Brazilian federal highwayBR-156,which runs north of the city through the Amazonian jungle.[6]The city is connected with the rest of the North Region via the following highways: the AP-010, linking Macapá toSantanato the southwest; the AP-030, linking to the city ofMazagão;the BR-156, linking the south of Amapá andLaranjal do Jarito the northern town ofOiapoque.[9]TheOyapoque River Bridgehas been open to traffic since March 20, 2017, linking Brazil and French Guiana by road for the first time.

Airport

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Macapá International Airport(officially:Aeroporto Internacional de Macapá – Alberto Alcolumbre) is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the city center and serves as a vital link between Macapá and other cities in Brazil. Commercial flights connect Macapá toBelém,Brasília,Fortaleza,Recife Airport,Rio de Janeiro,Salvador,andSão Paulo.The airport traces its history to a small air base built by the United States duringWorld War IIto secure strategic bases in the South Atlantic region.[10]

Economy

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Macapá's Skyline

Macapá is an economic center of northern Brazil and serves as a commercial hub of the state of Amapá. Gold, iron, lumber, manganese, oil, timber, and tin ore from the interior of the state pass through Amapá on toPort of Santanain the neighboring municipality ofSantana.[4][11]

It is the fifth wealthiest city in northern Brazil, with a GDP of R$2,826,458,000 (2005).[12]The city has a notably high rate of economic growth[citation needed]and a per capita income of R$7,950 (2005).[13]

Education

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Portugueseis the official national language, and the primary language taught in schools. English and French are also part of the official high school curriculum.

Educational institutions

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  • Universidade Federal do Amapá(UNIFAP)
  • Universidade Estadual do Amapá (UEAP)
  • Instituto Federal do Amapá (IFAP)
  • Faculdade de Macapá (Fama)
  • Faculdade de Tecnologia do Amapá (META)
  • Instituto Macapaense do Melhor Ensino Superior (IMMES)
  • Faculdade Seama

Landmarks

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Fortress of St. Joseph

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Fortress of St. Joseph

The fortress of St. Joseph is aVauban-stylestar fortbuilt between 1764 and 1782 to replace two previous fortifications located in the city. It was built to safeguard the northern extremity of Brazil and to control theAmazon Delta.It is one of the main sights of the city of Macapa.

Marco Zero monument

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TheMarco ZeroMonument marks the equator line

TheMarco Zeromonument[pt]was built to mark the position of theequatorin the city and to show the passage of the sun. At the spring and the autumnequinoxthe sun rises and sets on the line of the equator and shines on the monument along the Avenue Equatorial, which runs for a mile due east of it.

St. Joseph's Church

Milton Corrêa stadium

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TheEstádio Milton Corrêa,usually known as theZerão( "Big Zero", from its position on the equator), is amulti-purpose stadiumlocated in central Macapá on the R. Ilvaldo Alves Veras east of the university (UNIFAP). The stadium has a maximum capacity of 10,000 people and was built in 1990. It is used mostly forfootballmatches and hosts the home matches of several local teams.

Geography

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The municipality contains the 111-hectare (270-acre)Parazinho Biological Reserve,created in 1985 to protect an island in theAmazon River.[14] It contains the 21,676-hectare (53,560-acre)Rio Curiaú Environmental Protection Area,created in 1992 to protect an area near the urban center from city sprawl, and to protect the culture of the traditional inhabitants.[15] It contains the 137-hectare (340-acre)Fazendinha Environmental Protection Area,created in 2004.[16]

Climate

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The Macapá region includes large tracts oftropical rainforestand experiences relatively high rainfall. Macapá features atropical monsoon climate(Am) under theKöppen climate classification,with a lengthywet seasonfrom December through July, and a relatively shortdry seasonthat covers the remaining four months. However, a noticeable amount of rain is observed even during the dry season, a trait common to a number of other areas with this climate.[17]Average temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the year, hovering around 23 °C (73 °F) in the mornings[17]and 31 °C (88 °F) in the afternoon.[17]

Climate data for Macapá (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1967–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 36.0
(96.8) 		35.0
(95.0) 		39.3
(102.7) 		38.3
(100.9) 		36.0
(96.8) 		36.0
(96.8) 		37.0
(98.6) 		37.0
(98.6) 		37.0
(98.6) 		36.6
(97.9) 		39.6
(103.3) 		38.0
(100.4) 		39.6
(103.3)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 30.9
(87.6) 		30.2
(86.4) 		30.4
(86.7) 		30.7
(87.3) 		31.3
(88.3) 		31.8
(89.2) 		32.1
(89.8) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.4
(92.1) 		33.8
(92.8) 		33.4
(92.1) 		32.4
(90.3) 		31.9
(89.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.6
(79.9) 		26.2
(79.2) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.6
(79.9) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.1
(80.8) 		27.2
(81.0) 		27.9
(82.2) 		28.5
(83.3) 		28.8
(83.8) 		28.7
(83.7) 		27.8
(82.0) 		27.4
(81.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 23.6
(74.5) 		23.5
(74.3) 		23.7
(74.7) 		24.0
(75.2) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.0
(75.2) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.0
(75.2) 		24.0
(75.2)
Record low °C (°F) 19.6
(67.3) 		20.4
(68.7) 		21.1
(70.0) 		20.2
(68.4) 		21.4
(70.5) 		21.0
(69.8) 		20.2
(68.4) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.0
(69.8) 		20.4
(68.7) 		19.6
(67.3)
Averageprecipitationmm (inches) 268.1
(10.56) 		369.3
(14.54) 		400.1
(15.75) 		376.4
(14.82) 		308.4
(12.14) 		252.4
(9.94) 		203.9
(8.03) 		96.3
(3.79) 		25.4
(1.00) 		22.7
(0.89) 		58.1
(2.29) 		144.6
(5.69) 		2,525.7
(99.44)
Average precipitation days(≥ 1 mm) 16.6 19.5 22.3 21.3 20.5 18.2 16.3 9.1 3.2 2.0 3.9 9.4 162.3
Averagerelative humidity(%) 84.5 87.1 87.2 87.2 86.2 84.1 82.1 78.0 73.1 71.0 72.5 78.1 80.9
Averagedew point°C (°F) 24.2
(75.6) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.6
(76.3) 		24.8
(76.6) 		24.7
(76.5) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.5
(76.1) 		24.1
(75.4) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.0
(75.2) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.3
(75.8)
Mean monthlysunshine hours 158.1 117.1 120.9 125.8 164.5 198.9 234.3 267.6 273.6 285.3 254.9 215.0 2,416
Mean dailydaylight hours 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1 12.1
Averageultraviolet index 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 6 7
Source 1:Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia(sun 1981–2010)[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][17]
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[25]and Weather Atlas (UV index)[26]

Subdivisions

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Sunset in Vila Progresso, Bailique

The municipality is subdivided in five districts:[27]

In 1992, the villages of Curiaú de Dentro, Curiaú de Fora, Casa Grande, Curralinho and Mocambo in the municipality of Macapá were recognised asquilombos,settlements by escaped slaves, resulting in the establishment of theRio Curiaú Environmental Protection Area.[28]

See also

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References

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  1. ^IBGE 2020
  2. ^"Archived copy"(PDF).United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). Archived fromthe original(PDF)on July 8, 2014.RetrievedAugust 1,2013.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^"Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics"(PDF)(in Brazilian Portuguese). 2018.RetrievedMarch 6,2019.2018 Estimates of Population
  4. ^abc"Macapá".Encyclopædia Britannica.Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2015. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2011.RetrievedMay 13,2015.
  5. ^abNunes Torrinha, Mário (2015).Macapá: redes, comércio, tempo e espaço na formação do labirinto urbano(in Portuguese). Judiaí, SP: Paco Editorial.ISBN9788581488516.
  6. ^abcHistória de MacapáArchivedMay 24, 2007, at theWayback Machinein Portuguese
  7. ^"Sir Peter Blake Murdered".TV NZ.RetrievedJune 6,2013.
  8. ^Pamela Engel; Christina Sterbenz; Gus Lubin (November 27, 2013)."The Most Violent Cities In The World".Business Insider.RetrievedNovember 30,2013.
  9. ^"BR – 156".Archived fromthe originalon September 12, 2012.RetrievedApril 5,2021.
  10. ^"Aeroporto Internacional de Macapá – Alberto Alcolumbre"(in Portuguese). Brasília DF, Brazil: Ifraaero. 2015. Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2016.RetrievedMay 13,2015.
  11. ^Ports & Terminals Guide.Vol. 1. Redhill: IHS Maritime and Trade. 2014. p. 526.ISBN9781906313753.
  12. ^GDP(PDF)(in Portuguese). Macapá, Brazil:IBGE.2005.ISBN85-240-3919-1.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 2, 2008.RetrievedJuly 18,2007.
  13. ^per capita income(PDF)(in Portuguese). Macapá, Brazil:IBGE.2005.ISBN85-240-3919-1.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 2, 2008.RetrievedJuly 18,2007.
  14. ^REBIO do Parazinho(in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental,retrievedNovember 5,2016
  15. ^Novos conselheiros da Area de Protecao Ambiental do Rio Curiau sao empossados(in Portuguese), SEMA: Secretaria de Estado de Meio Ambiente (AP), December 9, 2013,retrievedNovember 6,2016
  16. ^APA da Fazendinha(in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental,retrievedNovember 5,2016
  17. ^abcd"Normais Climatológicas Do Brasil 1981–2010"(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia.RetrievedNovember 15,2018.
  18. ^ "Temperatura Máxima Mensal e Anual (°C)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  19. ^ "Temperatura Média Compensada Mensal e Anual (°C)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  20. ^ "Temperatura Mínima Mensal e Anual (°C)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  21. ^ "Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  22. ^ "Número de dias no mês ou no ano com precipitação maior ou igual a (1 mm) (dias)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  23. ^ "Umidade Relativa do Ar Compensada Mensal e Anual (%)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  24. ^ "Insolação Total (horas)".Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020(in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived fromthe originalon March 24, 2022.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
  25. ^"Station Macapa"(in French). Meteo Climat.RetrievedNovember 15,2018.
  26. ^"Macapá, Brazil – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast".Weather Atlas.Yu Media Group.RetrievedJune 28,2019.
  27. ^"Macapá".IBGE(in Portuguese).RetrievedApril 1,2021.
  28. ^Lima e Silva, Raullyan Borja; Freitas, João da Luz; Moreira dos Santos, João Ubiratan; Picanço Souto, Raimundo Nonato (2013)."Caracterização agroecológica e socioeconômica dos moradores da comunidade quilombola do Curiaú"(PDF).Biota Amazônia(in Portuguese).3(3). Macapá: 113.doi:10.18561/2179-5746/biotaamazonia.v3n3p113-138.ISSN2179-5746.RetrievedApril 4,2021.
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