Pedra Branca do Amapari
Municipality
Pedra Branca do Amapari
Railway bridge over the Amapari River
Railway bridge over the Amapari River
Flag of Pedra Branca do Amapari
Flag
Official seal of Pedra Branca do Amapari
Seal
Location of Pedra Branca do Amapari in the Amapá
Location of Pedra Branca do Amapari in the Amapá
Pedra Branca do Amapari is located in Brazil
Pedra Branca do Amapari
Pedra Branca do Amapari
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 0°46′34″N 51°57′23″W / 0.7761°N 51.9564°W / 0.7761; -51.9564
Country Brazil
RegionNorth
State Amapá
Founded1 May 1992
Government
 • MayorBeth Pelaes (PMDB)
Area
 • Total9,495 km2 (3,666 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,067
 • Density1.13/km2 (2.9/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3
[1]

Pedra Branca do Amapari (Portuguese pronunciation: ['pɛdɾɐ 'bɾɐ̃kɐ dwɐ̃mapa'ɾi]) (White Stone of Amaphary), also known simply as Amapari, is a municipality located in the midwest of the state of Amapá in Brazil.[1] Its population is 17,067[2] and its area is 9,495 square kilometres (3,666 sq mi). The municipality has a population density of 1.13/km2, and the population remains even divided between rural and village areas.[1][3]

Geography

Pedra Branca do Amapari is bordered by the municipalities of Oiapoque to the north, Serra do Navio to the east, Porto Grande to the southeast, Mazagão to the south, and Laranjal do Jari to the west. The town is rich in rivers and streams (igarapé). The Amapari River and its tributaries, the Mururé, Tucumpi and Cupixi, all cross through the municipality. The Amapari River feeds in to the Araguari River in the southwest of the town.[1] The municipality contains 12% of the 806,184 hectares (1,992,120 acres) Rio Iratapuru Sustainable Development Reserve, created in 1997.[4] It contains 6.39% of the 2,369,400 hectares (5,855,000 acres) Amapá State Forest, a sustainable use conservation unit established in 2006.[5]

History

The municipality of Amapari was originally explored by members of the Saramaka, a Maroon group from Suriname, who searched for gold in the area.[3] Manganese ore was discovered in the region in 1953. Travel to Pedra Branca do Amapari was possible only by airplane, and pilots used a huge white rock (pedra branca) in the Amapari River as a reference point. Thereafter the town was known as Pedra Branca do Amapari.[1] The town can nowadays be accessed via the BR-210 highway.[6]

Economy

Amapari supports the small-scale production of rice, corn, beans, and cassava for the domestic market. Cupuaçu, pineapples, oranges, bananas, and melons are grown for local consumption.[1] Per capital income in Amapari is R$ 24,782 (US$9629), as compared to the Brazilian national average of R$20,988 (US$12,536).[3][7]

Gold mining has become a major part of the economy, and resulted in a steep population growth.[6] The biggest concession is the Tucano mine which is operated by Great Panther Mining.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Rodrigues, Edgar (2011). "Amapari" (in Portuguese). Macapá, Amapá: Governo do Estado do Amapá. Archived from the original on 27 August 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. ^ IBGE 2020
  3. ^ a b c "Pedra Branca do Amaparí" (in Portuguese). Brasília: Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  4. ^ RDS do Rio Iratapuru (in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental, retrieved 5 November 2016
  5. ^ FES do Amapá (in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental, retrieved 6 July 2016
  6. ^ a b "Pedra Branca do Amapari". Government of Amapá (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Brazil". International Monetary Fund (IMF). Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  8. ^ "Tucano mine". Great Panther. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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