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| Norte (Região Norte do Brasil) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Norte |
| Native name | Região Norte |
| Country | Brazil |
| Area km2 | 3248000 |
| Population | 18640000 |
| Capital | Manaus |
| States | Acre (state), Amapá (state), Amazonas (state), Pará (state), Rondônia (state), Roraima (state), Tocantins (state) |
Norte (Região Norte do Brasil) The Norte is the largest of the regions of Brazil by area, covering much of the Amazon Basin and containing vast tracts of tropical rainforest, river systems and indigenous territories. It is characterized by low population density, major cities such as Manaus, Belém (Pará), and Macapá, and strategic natural resources that connect it to national and international networks like the Amazon River, Rio Negro, and the Port of Santarém.
The region occupies the northern portion of Brazil and overlaps the Amazon rainforest, the Guiana Shield, and parts of the Tapajós and Xingu basins. Major rivers include the Amazon River, Rio Negro, Tocantins River, Madeira River, and Jari River, which feed floodplains such as the várzea and igapó systems. Topography varies from the low-lying plains of the Marajó Island delta to the tepuis of the Guiana Highlands near Mount Roraima and the Serra do Cachimbo. Climatic influence comes from the Intertropical Convergence Zone, with equatorial rainforest climates around Manaus and monsoonal patterns near Belém (Pará) and Tocantins (state). The region includes protected areas like Jaú National Park, Monte Roraima National Park, and the Anavilhanas National Park.
Pre-Columbian occupation involved peoples associated with sites such as Marajó Island pottery cultures and the mound-building traditions documented near the Tapajós River and Rio Negro. Contact and colonization saw expeditions by Pedro Teixeira and competition among colonial powers including Portugal and Spain under treaties such as the Treaty of Tordesillas and later diplomatic arrangements like the Treaty of Madrid (1750). The region was shaped by the rubber boom (Amazon rubber boom) centered in Manaus and Belém (Pará), attracting migrants from Brazil and Europe and involving figures such as Mallet-Prevost-era contract networks. Republican-era developments included the creation of states like Rondônia (state) and Amapá (state), military projects such as the Trans-Amazonian Highway, and international attention during environmental debates involving organizations like Greenpeace and treaties including the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Population is concentrated in urban centers including Manaus, Belém (Pará), Santarém, Macapá, and Boa Vista, while vast areas host low-density settlements including riverside communities (ribeirinhos) and indigenous peoples such as the Yanomami, Ticuna, Kayapó, Waupés, and Makuxi. Census data collection is conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and reflects ethnic mixes including descendants of Portuguese Empire settlers, African diaspora communities formed under the Transatlantic slave trade, and later migrants from Northeast Region, Brazil and Southern Brazil. Health and social services intersect with institutions like the Funai, Hospital Adventista de Manaus, and programs tied to the Ministry of Health (Brazil), while demographic shifts relate to projects such as the Manaus Free Trade Zone.
Economic activity centers on extractive industries, manufacturing, agroforestry and services. The Manaus Free Trade Zone hosts multinational firms including electronics assemblers connected to trade routes via the Port of Manaus and Eduardo Gomes International Airport. Extractive sectors include timber, mining at sites like the Carajás Mine in Pará (state), and mineral concessions producing iron ore and bauxite near Oriximiná. Agriculture and cattle ranching expand in areas influenced by infrastructure projects such as the BR-163 and the Trans-Amazonian Highway, while fisheries exploit resources in the Amazon River and coastal zones like Marajó Island. Energy projects include hydroelectric complexes on the Tucuruí Dam and controversies involving Belo Monte Dam on the Xingu River, with corporate and multilateral engagement from entities such as Empresa de Pesquisa Energética and investment partners from China and United States firms.
The Norte contains the highest terrestrial biodiversity in Brazil, with ecoregions including the Amazon rainforest, Guianan moist forests, and Amazonian flooded forests. It hosts species such as the harpy eagle, Amazon river dolphin, puma, jaguar and countless endemics in genera studied by institutions like the National Institute for Amazonian Research and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Conservation units include Pico da Neblina National Park and the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, while pressures arise from deforestation linked to soy expansion, illegal gold mining affecting areas near the Yanomami Indigenous Territory, and fires debated in forums such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. International NGOs, academic centers like the Federal University of Amazonas, and indigenous organizations such as the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira engage in preservation and research.
Transportation relies heavily on fluvial networks—routes on the Amazon River, Rio Negro, and Madeira River—serving ports like Port of Manaus, Port of Belém, and Port of Santarém. Road infrastructure includes federal highways BR-319, BR-230 (Trans-Amazonian Highway), and BR-163 connecting agricultural frontiers to export corridors, while airports such as Eduardo Gomes International Airport and Val-de-Cans International Airport link to national hubs like São Paulo and Brasília. Projects such as the GNL Amazonia proposals, regional rail proposals, and river dredging operations intersect with regulatory frameworks from agencies like the National Department of Transport Infrastructure and debates over sustainable logistics involving the Inter-American Development Bank and World Bank.
Cultural life blends indigenous traditions with Amazonian urban expressions; festivals include Círio de Nazaré in Belém (Pará), Amazonian manifestations like the Parintins Folklore Festival in Parintins featuring the Boi-Bumbá folklore, and culinary traditions centered on açaí, tacacá, and manioc dishes. Artistic scenes involve institutions such as the Amazon Theatre in Manaus and literary figures studying the region in works associated with researchers from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Social movements and political actors include the Movement of Dam-Affected People (MAB), indigenous leadership, and labor organizations linked historically to the rubber tappers and figures like Chico Mendes in environmental and social campaigns. Education and research institutions such as the Federal University of Pará, State University of Amazonas, and international collaborations shape cultural preservation and policy discourse.