The Amazon

ANAVILHANAS ISLAND
During the flooding season only birds and reptiles visit the islands.

AMAZON RIVER
9.32 miles (15 km) away from Manaus by waterway, following the Negro River. 4,087 miles (6,577 km) of extension of which 1,967 miles (3,165 km) are in the Brazilian territory. It forms the largest hydrographic basin in the world. Originating in Peru, Cordillera of Andes, 13,123 feet (4,000 m) high it passes through Iquitos (Peru) and Letícia (Colombia), entering Brazil through Benjamin Constant County at an altitude of 213 feet (65 m). The depth ranges from 65.61 feet (20 m) to 656.16 feet (200 m) and its width varies from 1.86 miles (3 km) to 8.70 miles (14 km), and can reach almost 31 miles (50 km). The water level goes up gradually from the end of November till June.

PONTA NEGRA BEACH
Almost 2 km long and wrapped up in a green area and receiving the dark waters from Negro River, lies Ponta Negra Beach, a real natural masterpiece. It is 13 km away from the centre of Manaus and undoubtedly the most pleasant place for a refreshing bath in those hot days in Manaus.

Dourada Beach
Another river beach with dark-coloured waters. Tents and cottages are here for rent on weekends. There is a bar and restaurant where you can eat delicious fried fish with flour and sauce accompanied by a cold beer.

The Manaus Opera House
The Amazon Theatre is one of the most important monuments left by the exhilarating rubber boom period. The architecture is eclectic and neo-classic with material and artists brought in from Europe. On the outside of the building, the dome is covered with 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles painted in the colours of the national flag. In the shape of a harp, the central nave can seat 640 in the auditorium.

Meeting of the Waters
One of the most spectacular is the "meeting of the waters," where the dark waters of the Rio Negro flow side by side with the clearer waters of Rio Solimões for over three miles without mixing. Daily tour boats from Manaus ferry tourists to see this remarkable natural phenomenon.

The Rio Negro Palace
The Rio Negro Palace now houses the state government. The Indian Museum and Museum do Homem do Norte feature exhibits about the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, and the January Lake Ecological Parkis a showcase for the astonishing diversity of the region's non human inhabitants.