Manaus Brasil – Unexpected Luxury in the Heart of the Amazon

Located 900 miles (1,450 km) inland from the Atlantic coast. Manaus (Ma-naus) is a a major inland port (reached by oceangoing vessels from the Atlantic) in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. The city is the major collection and distribution center for the river areas of the upper Amazon. First settled in 1669, rubber plantations in the area from 1890 to 1920 brought prosperity to the city, culminating in the building it the great Opera House and the the best entertainers from Europe and North America were brought in the pleasure of the 100 or so rubber baron families who controlled the economy. With the advent of synthetic rubber in the early 1920’s, the golden period of Manaus was over.

Today Manaus is a major distribution center for shipments not only into the Amazon but for other parts of Brazil. Due to extensive development of the mineral and agricultural wealth of the surrounding rain-forested region since the 1970’s and commercial development which has resulted in oil refineries and over some new manufacturing operations who have headquartered here, Manaus population has grown to 2 million and it is again finding new wealth and prosperity.

Opera House, Manaus, the Amazons, Brazil Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Conceição - Manaus Brasil, located in the heart of the Amazons View of City from Pier, Manaus, the Amazons, Brazil

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Manaus Brasil -- Unexpected Luxury in the Heart of the Amazon

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Manaus - a city of 2 million located in the Amazons

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