Manaus Anniversary
Wednesday, 25. October 2006, 15:04:10
Hi all!
Yesterday was the celebration of 337 years old of Manaus!
The 337 years since Manaus was "promoted" to city. Because of this, I thought about put some information of the history (in english and in Portuguese) and hope you like it.
Some days ago I put a new photo album with some pics of the old city. I loved the pics I found. Some I found on net, and some I took from a cd-rom of a friend of mine.
They're really amazing and shows a glamourous time of the city. You can see the album here
I always liked History. And these old things are great! Not because is about the city I live in, but because is a part of the world's History, and it's important to humanity.
The text in Portuguese can be read here (I took from wikipedia and the informations in Portuguese are much more than in English...)
The English information you read right here
:
Manaus is a city in north-west Brazil (nevertheless, according to the country's official regional division, it is part of the North of Brazil) and capital of Amazonas State. Located on the Negro River near its confluence with the Amazon, it is the chief port and a hub for the region's extensive river system. Its population is estimated to be around 1,800,000.
Manaus began as a small fort, called São José da Barra, created in 1669 by Portuguese settlers as a defense against Spanish incursions into Brazil by way of the Amazon River. On November 13, 1832, the settlement gained the status of village, and was named "Manaus", after the indigenous tribe, the "Manaós", which once inhabitated the area. In the local language, the word means "Mother of God". On October 24, 1848, Manaus was awarded the status of city with the name "Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro". In 1850, Amazonas became a province. On September 4, 1856, the city was renamed "Cidade de Manaus" or just Manaus.
From 1890 to 1920, Manaus was a rubber boomtown, which was caused in part by the invention of the process of vulcanization. The plantantion owners became extravagantly wealthy and the city prospered. Immigrants from northeastern Brazil, fleeing drought and poverty, flooded the city seeking riches in the rubber trade. By 1920, synthetic rubber and the growth of plantations in Southeast Asia caused a drastic plunge in the price of rubber, and Manaus declined into poverty. Today Manaus is the financial center of the North Brazil.
Although the main industry of Manaus through much of the last century was rubber, it is no longer as important as it once was. Given its location, timber and Brazil-nuts make up important trades, as do petroleum refining, soap manufacture and chemical industries. Over the last decades, a system of federal investments and tax incentives have turned the surrounding region into a major industrial center (the Zona Franca of Manaus).
Manaus is a cosmopolitan city and, because of its location next to the Amazon Rainforest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. It is also place for one of the most endangered primates in Brazil - the Pied tamarin.
The Teatro Amazonas, an opera house built in 1896 is a notable landmark of Manaus, reflecting the massive wealth of the turn of the century rubber boom. The theatre was prominently featured Werner Herzog's 1982 film Fitzcarraldo. The elegant interior of this 1896 opera house, completed after 15 years, contains crystal chandeliers, wrought-iron banisters, and Italian frescoes, as well as a museum.
About 18km from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. The CIGS Zoo, which doubles as an army training center, also is located in the neighbourhood.
The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa is a market place with many fish, fruit and vegetable stores.
The Federal University of Amazonas was founded in January 17, 1909.
If you noticed, I did a post some days before talking about Manaus, and there are some links to know more about the city nowadays. It is a sticky post and if you dont want to loose the chance to learn more about Manaus, go there and see the links posted: Some websites about Manaus
Have a nice wednesday!
Yesterday was the celebration of 337 years old of Manaus!
The 337 years since Manaus was "promoted" to city. Because of this, I thought about put some information of the history (in english and in Portuguese) and hope you like it. Some days ago I put a new photo album with some pics of the old city. I loved the pics I found. Some I found on net, and some I took from a cd-rom of a friend of mine.
They're really amazing and shows a glamourous time of the city. You can see the album here
I always liked History. And these old things are great! Not because is about the city I live in, but because is a part of the world's History, and it's important to humanity.
The text in Portuguese can be read here (I took from wikipedia and the informations in Portuguese are much more than in English...)
The English information you read right here
:Manaus is a city in north-west Brazil (nevertheless, according to the country's official regional division, it is part of the North of Brazil) and capital of Amazonas State. Located on the Negro River near its confluence with the Amazon, it is the chief port and a hub for the region's extensive river system. Its population is estimated to be around 1,800,000.
Manaus began as a small fort, called São José da Barra, created in 1669 by Portuguese settlers as a defense against Spanish incursions into Brazil by way of the Amazon River. On November 13, 1832, the settlement gained the status of village, and was named "Manaus", after the indigenous tribe, the "Manaós", which once inhabitated the area. In the local language, the word means "Mother of God". On October 24, 1848, Manaus was awarded the status of city with the name "Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro". In 1850, Amazonas became a province. On September 4, 1856, the city was renamed "Cidade de Manaus" or just Manaus.
From 1890 to 1920, Manaus was a rubber boomtown, which was caused in part by the invention of the process of vulcanization. The plantantion owners became extravagantly wealthy and the city prospered. Immigrants from northeastern Brazil, fleeing drought and poverty, flooded the city seeking riches in the rubber trade. By 1920, synthetic rubber and the growth of plantations in Southeast Asia caused a drastic plunge in the price of rubber, and Manaus declined into poverty. Today Manaus is the financial center of the North Brazil.
Although the main industry of Manaus through much of the last century was rubber, it is no longer as important as it once was. Given its location, timber and Brazil-nuts make up important trades, as do petroleum refining, soap manufacture and chemical industries. Over the last decades, a system of federal investments and tax incentives have turned the surrounding region into a major industrial center (the Zona Franca of Manaus).
Manaus is a cosmopolitan city and, because of its location next to the Amazon Rainforest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. It is also place for one of the most endangered primates in Brazil - the Pied tamarin.
The Teatro Amazonas, an opera house built in 1896 is a notable landmark of Manaus, reflecting the massive wealth of the turn of the century rubber boom. The theatre was prominently featured Werner Herzog's 1982 film Fitzcarraldo. The elegant interior of this 1896 opera house, completed after 15 years, contains crystal chandeliers, wrought-iron banisters, and Italian frescoes, as well as a museum.
About 18km from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. The CIGS Zoo, which doubles as an army training center, also is located in the neighbourhood.
The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa is a market place with many fish, fruit and vegetable stores.
The Federal University of Amazonas was founded in January 17, 1909.
If you noticed, I did a post some days before talking about Manaus, and there are some links to know more about the city nowadays. It is a sticky post and if you dont want to loose the chance to learn more about Manaus, go there and see the links posted: Some websites about Manaus
Have a nice wednesday!
(16%)
WIDGETIZE
Bozinsek # 25. October 2006, 19:35
Thanks for sharing!
Boz
b_laudanum # 25. October 2006, 20:38
glad you liked! thanks for coming!
Munus # 26. October 2006, 14:27
I looked at your photos of Manaus. This city is very wonderful.
Greetings.
b_laudanum # 26. October 2006, 14:44
The city is really beautiful indeed, but as any other city has its issues...
it's bad, but ces't la vie!
wickedlizard # 26. October 2006, 22:06