NORTHERN BRAZIL - Brazil - page 265

Macapá 4
Amapá. * 325,000. k g from
Belém. @ Bairro São Lázaro, (096)
3251 2009. n Detur, Rua
Independência 29, Centro, (096)
3212 5335. _ O Marabaixo (May).

Split in two by the equator,
Macapá is hot and humid all
year round. The city occupies
its position as Amapá's capital
sitting on the northern bank
of the Amazon river, very
close to the giant river's
mouth. It is rather isolated,
with mostly air and boat
transportation, rather than
road connections.
The history of the city is rich
and varied. Several European
countries, including England
and France, attempted to take
it over from the Portuguese,
but the Portuguese established
their hold here by completing
the grand Fortaleza de São
José de Macapá in 1782, after
almost 20 years of construction
by black and Indian slave
labor. The bricks used were
brought over from Portugal
as ballast on the ships.
Just to the north of the fort,
there is an attractive pier, the
Trapiche Eliezer Levy, dating
back to the 1930s. The pier
stretches far out into the
water and it is an enjoyable
stroll to the end of it, espe-
cially on a breezy evening.
The charming Trapiche
Restaurante (see p407) , also
located at the end of the pier,
has a breathtaking view
overlooking the river.

A replica of a typical indigenous home, Museu SACACA, Macapá

These days, Macapá is the
capital of a progressive state.
Following the election of
the environmentalist João
Capiberibe as state governor
in 1995, successive governors
have kept the
spirit of environ-
mentalism alive.
One present
project is to
connect all the
state's protected areas
with wildlife or bio-
diversity corridors. The Museu
SACACA , or the Museum of
Sustainable Development,
just a short distance south
of the town center, offers
fascinating guided tours of
replica ribeirinho (river-
dweller) houses.
The Mercado dos Produtos
da Floresta offers a wide
range of local art and craft
goods, ranging from balata
(ceramics) dusted with man-
ganese ore to indigenous

crafts, leather goods, carved
wooden statues and all-
natural medicines.
The Marco Zero monument,
a large obelisk-cum-sundial,
4 miles (6 km) southwest of
the city center,
marks the
equatorial line
on Avenida
Equatorial.
A sports stadium
and sambódromo
also form part of
the same complex.
P Fortaleza de
São José de Macapá
Av Candido Mendes. Tel [phone]
1260. # 9am-6pm Tue-Sun. 8
( Mercado dos
Produtos da Floresta
Rua São José 1500. Tel [phone]
0913. # 8am-6pm Mon-Fri.
E Museu SACACA
Av Feliciano Coelho, 1509.
Tel [phone]. # 9am-6pm
Tue-Sun. 8

Wooden artifact,
Museu SACACA

Buildings inside the Fortaleza de São José de Macapá

Wooden house on stilts, with a horse standing in the water-logged paddock in front, Ilha de Marajó, Pará