Manaus, Brazil - Day 2
During our second day in Manaus we chose to enjoy the remoteness of the region rather than visit the hustle and bustle of this city of 2 million people. Only accessible by boat or air, the region is so isolated, the unique culture of the native Brazilian tribes has been largely preserved.
We boarded small boats and headed for the remote backwaters of the river. This being the dry season, the lush green shoreline will soon be under 20 feet of water when the rainy season arrives in December.
We passed a village consisting of about 2-dozen homes. During the rainy season their floors are just inches above the water line. Most are fishermen and take their daily catch to the fish market in Manaus. Many also hunt to provide meat for their family. Children attend school using "school boats" for transportation to the city.
Nearby, three men loaded their boat with watermelons to sell at the city's farmers market. Their 2-hour trip in the heavily loaded boat has to traverse two-miles of open water dodging container ships and ferries.
During the early part of the dry season, bird watching offers hundreds of species. By the end of the dry season many of the birds have migrated to their southern hemisphere (summer) homes.
Many rainforest residents choose to construct floating homes rather than build structures on stilts. Our guide informed us that floating houses are really "mobile homes" because residents can easily hitch them behind their boat and tow them to a "new" neighborhood. Notice the satellite dish on the left which will require relocation during the high-water season.
Along the way we stopped and walked into the rainforest.
As we passed, a nearby monkey checked us out hoping for a handout.
From the backwaters, we cruised a few miles down the river to view the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. (Solimões is the name locals give the Amazon River from this point of confluence up to its headwaters in Peru.) The color of the Solimões River is light brown because it flows through a region of high organic content. On the other hand, Rio Negro appears black since it flows through the volcanic mountains of Columbia. The ph of the Negro is acidic while the Solimões is basic. This factor plus the five-degree temperature difference creates a "meeting of the waters" phenomenon which lasts for several miles before mixing occurs. The ph difference also results in less mosquitoes and fewer varieties of fish in the Negro.
Returning back to the city, we passed one of many floating fuel stations, a convenient way to refuel your boat and pick up a snack on your way home.
The Viking Sun departed Manaus after sunset offering a postcard view of the city. In a matter of minutes we were downriver in total darkness - cruising through the Amazon rainforest.
We will be cruising 4 days before reach our next port, Recife, Brazil.
Amazon Factoid 1: The Amazon River provides 20% of the ocean's fresh-water supply.
Amazon Factoid 2: From the mouth of the Amazon River, fresh water, including the river's light brown color, extends 35 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean.
We boarded small boats and headed for the remote backwaters of the river. This being the dry season, the lush green shoreline will soon be under 20 feet of water when the rainy season arrives in December.
We passed a village consisting of about 2-dozen homes. During the rainy season their floors are just inches above the water line. Most are fishermen and take their daily catch to the fish market in Manaus. Many also hunt to provide meat for their family. Children attend school using "school boats" for transportation to the city.
Nearby, three men loaded their boat with watermelons to sell at the city's farmers market. Their 2-hour trip in the heavily loaded boat has to traverse two-miles of open water dodging container ships and ferries.
During the early part of the dry season, bird watching offers hundreds of species. By the end of the dry season many of the birds have migrated to their southern hemisphere (summer) homes.
Many rainforest residents choose to construct floating homes rather than build structures on stilts. Our guide informed us that floating houses are really "mobile homes" because residents can easily hitch them behind their boat and tow them to a "new" neighborhood. Notice the satellite dish on the left which will require relocation during the high-water season.
Along the way we stopped and walked into the rainforest.
As we passed, a nearby monkey checked us out hoping for a handout.
From the backwaters, we cruised a few miles down the river to view the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. (Solimões is the name locals give the Amazon River from this point of confluence up to its headwaters in Peru.) The color of the Solimões River is light brown because it flows through a region of high organic content. On the other hand, Rio Negro appears black since it flows through the volcanic mountains of Columbia. The ph of the Negro is acidic while the Solimões is basic. This factor plus the five-degree temperature difference creates a "meeting of the waters" phenomenon which lasts for several miles before mixing occurs. The ph difference also results in less mosquitoes and fewer varieties of fish in the Negro.
Returning back to the city, we passed one of many floating fuel stations, a convenient way to refuel your boat and pick up a snack on your way home.
The Viking Sun departed Manaus after sunset offering a postcard view of the city. In a matter of minutes we were downriver in total darkness - cruising through the Amazon rainforest.
We will be cruising 4 days before reach our next port, Recife, Brazil.
Amazon Factoid 1: The Amazon River provides 20% of the ocean's fresh-water supply.
Amazon Factoid 2: From the mouth of the Amazon River, fresh water, including the river's light brown color, extends 35 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean.
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