Manaus is a city in the northern part of Brazil and capital of Amazonas State. Located on the Rio Negro near its confluence with the Rio Solimões (also known as the Amazon River), it is the chief port and a hub for the region’s extensive river system. It is also a common point of departure for tourists visiting the rest of the Amazon region.
Situated on the banks of the Rio Negro (meaning Black River, because of the dark color of the water), Manaus is an important centre for ecological tourism. One of its most popular attractions is the Ponta Negra beach, 13 kilometres (8 miles) from the centre of the city, where, when the river is low, the sands are exposed right down to the river bed, forming a beautiful contrast with the dark waters of the river itself.
The old rubber barons dreamed of transforming Manaus into a European style city and called it “The Paris of the Tropics”. With the end of the rubber boom, Manaus went into decline and only entered a period of renewed development in the 1950s. A turning point was reached in 1967, when the Manaus Free Zone was established by the federal government. From that date on, the capital of Amazonas has passed through great changes, becoming an important industrial centre for the manufacture of electrical and electronic goods (nowadays, Manaus is the supplier for the entire country of items such as DVD players and computer monitors).
(Text and map of Brazil adapted from: Manaus in Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia)
Condos line the street across from the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Condos line the street across from the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Condos line the street across from the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Condos to be constructed advertized along the street across from the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Sight Seeing float planes at end of the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Sight Seeing float planes at end of the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Sight Seeing float planes at end of the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Sight Seeing float planes advertisement at end of the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
The breadth of the Rio Negro River is evident at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Advertisement for Ariau Amazon Towers Eco and Convention Center Hotel on van at at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil. The Ariaú Amazon Towers is located 60 Km Northwest of Manaus
Condos under construction will soon line this street around the point from the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Concert stadium along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Noon time rain sets in along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Noon time rain scatters restaurant patrons along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Wonderful fish and all the trimmings at restaurant along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Empty SKOL beer cans as testatment to a great lunch along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Restaurant along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Hibiscus flowers along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Condos along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Restaurant along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil near the Hotel
Administration building for the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Road descending to the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Police car along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Military police boat on the Rio Negro at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Sailing competition along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Rowing competition along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Police officer overseeing festivities along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Games and dancing along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
OceansArt photographer Kris shows off her food at the easternmost restaurant along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Noon time rain scatters restaurant patrons along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Noon time rain scatters restaurant patrons along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Noon time rain falls on the Rio Negro at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Pouring rain doesn’t deter swimmer along the Rio Negro beach at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
Pouring rain causes tarps to be lowered on ferry cruising up the Rio Negro at Ponta Negra, Manaus, Brazil
