Itamaracá

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Itamaracá is an island and a city in Pernambuco, Brazil, near to the Atlantic Ocean. The name means "stone shaker" in Tupi, from the words itá ("stone")[1] and mbara'ká ("shaker").[2]

Itamaracá has a total area of 65.41 square kilometers and had an estimated population of 18,658 inhabitants in 2009 according to IBGE.[3] It is located in the metropolitan area of Recife, the capital city of Pernambuco state. The main activities of the population are fishing and tourism. Recife, Pernambuco's capital is located about 38 km to the south whereas Olinda, another important city of Pernambuco, is 30 km to the south.

Geography

  • State - Pernambuco
  • Region - RMR (Recife)
  • Boundaries - Goiana (N), Igarassu (S), Itapissuma (W), Atlantic ocean (E)
  • Area - 65.4 sqkm
  • Elevation - 3 m (10 ft)
  • Hidrography - Small coast rivers
  • Vegetation - Atlantic forest,capoeira,capoeirinha, coconut trees and mangrove
  • Clima - Hot tropical and dry
  • Annual average temperature - 25.3 c
  • Main road - BR 101 and PE 041
  • Distance to Recife - 38 km

Tourist attractions

  • Forte Orange, first built by the Dutch in 1631 and rebuilt by the Portuguese in 1654 * Vila Velha, seat of the former Itamaracá Hereditary Captaincy (Church of Our Lady of the Conception, colonial houses)
  • Sao Joao and Amparo "engenhos" (historic sugar mill and plantation complexes)
  • Ibama's centre of sea mammals (Trichechus manatus)
  • Avião island
  • Currais (devices for fishing)
  • Folklore: famous for a musical style known as "ciranda," of which Lia de Itamaracá is the most well-known singer

Beaches

  • Pontal da Ilha beach

Has calm waters, mangue vegetation, good for swimming. Its located in the intersection between Catuama River and Santa Cruz channel.

  • Fortinho beach

Has weak waves, large rocks, and not depth waters.

  • Pontal de Jaguaribe beach

Considered dangerous because of the estuary of Jaguaribe River. Also, shows area of advanced coastal erosion and is not a popular destination.

  • Jaguaribe beach

Located in the urban area of the municipality, is two kilometers long and has several bars and restaurants. Each year held a fishing festival of garfishes. Its major attraction is the Lady Lia, a well known singer of Ciranda. Ciranda is a folklore musical style. Its a very popular beach. Urban beach with a small strip of land when at high tide. There is the cross of Our Lady of Pilar This beach is improper for swimming due to pollution.[4]

  • Quatro cantos beach

Which means four cornes beach. Urban beach and when at high tides, just have small sand strip.

  • Pilar beach

Urban beach with a small strip of land when at high tide. There is the cross of Our Lady of Pilar. This beach is improper for swimming due to pollution.[5]

  • Rio Âmbar beach

Has quiet waters and fine sands. Also has the Itamaraca Yacht club and numerous summer houses. Its a popular destination.

  • Baixa Verde beach

Which means lower green, has clear sand, coconut trees vegetation, and summer and fishermen's houses.

  • Forno de Cal beach

Area of occurrence of coastal erosion, has now cointainment dykes.

  • Forte Orange beach

Fort Orange in English, has its name due to the presence of a Dutch fort built in 1631 and re-built by Portugueses in 1654. Its the site/point where boats and rafts cross the Jaguaribe River to the Coroa do Avião beach islet. Also, has an Ibama center of sea mammals (Trichechus manatus) for their lives preservation and studies. With its calm waters and many bars, the beach, it is a very popular destination.

  • Enseada dos Golfinhos beach

Which means Dolphins bay. Has mangal vegetation and some sands banks. Good for swimming. Unlike what the name suggests does not have dolphins in this area. In Pernambuco, just Fernando de Noronha has dolphins.

  • São Paulo beach

Has extensive sand banks, reefs and tide pools.

  • Sossego beach

Which means quiet beach. Has mangrove vegetation, sand banks and natural pools. The Jaguaribe River estuary complete the landscape.

Economy

The main economic activities in Itamaraca are based in tourism, primary sector especially artisanal fishing and local commerce.

Economic indicators

Population GDP x(1000 R$).[6] GDP pc (R$) PE RMR
18.658 76.266 4.340 0.13% 0.19%

Economy by Sector 2006

Primary sector Secondary sector Service sector
6.35% 14.84% 78.81%

Health indicators

[7]

HDI (2000) Hospitals (2012) Hospitals beds (2007) Children's Mortality every 1000 (2005)
0.743 1 363 9.0

Problems

The Itamaraca island has a judiciary asylum, a maximum security prison and a semi-open facility.

Gallery

  • Ilha de Itamaracá Beach

  • Ilha de Itamaracá estuary

  • Estuary

  • Fort Orange

  • Forte Orange

References

  1. ↑ Vocabulario Tupi
  2. ↑ FERREIRA, A. B. H. Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa. Segunda edição. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, 1986. p. 1087
  3. ↑ IBGE Population 2009 Itamaraca, page 33]
  4. ↑ http://www.cprh.pe.gov.br/monitoramento/balneabilidade/balneabilidade.asp
  5. ↑ http://www.cprh.pe.gov.br/monitoramento/balneabilidade/balneabilidade.asp
  6. ↑ Itamaraca 2007 GDP IBGE page 30
  7. ↑ PE State site - City by city profile

External links

  • Itamaracá island
  • Sea mammals preservation project
  • Lia (ciranda singer) show

Coordinates: 7°44′52″S 34°49′33″W / 7.74778°S 34.82583°W / -7.74778; -34.82583

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