Itamaracá
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] It is separated from the mainland by Canal de Santa Cruz, a salt water channel both mouths of which are on the Atlantic Ocean.
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 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 km2
- Elevation - 3 m (10 ft)
- Hydrography - 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
History
In the early 1500s before Portuguese colonization, the island was the site of a trading post for furs and other native goods, and transhipment depot for Brazilwood. The island at that time was occupied by various loosely related tribes of Tupi-Guarani native South American peoples. Later, the island became part of the Captaincy of Itamaracá (most of which today is occupied by the state of Paraiba) which took its name from the island, established by King John III of Portugal in 1534. The chief economic activity in the following century and a half was sugar cane processing, in engenhos (sugar mills). While Itamaracá was administratively separate, it operated as a political and economic subdivision of Pernambuco. With the rise of the gold economy in the late 17th century, Itamaracá became economically isolated.
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, suitable for swimming. It is 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.
- Jaguaribe beach
Located in the urban area of the municipality, is two kilometers long and has several bars and restaurants. Every year, it holds a fishing festival of garfishes. Its major attraction is the Lady Lia, a well known singer of Ciranda, a folklore musical style. It has a small strip of land when at high tide. There lies the cross of Our Lady of Pilar This beach is improper for swimming due to pollution.[4]
- Quatro cantos beach
Its name means four corners. It's an urban beach and when at high tides, it just has small sand strip.
- Pilar beach
Urban beach with a small strip of land when at high tide. There is a 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.
- Baixa Verde beach
Its name means low green. It's got clear sand, coconut trees vegetation, and summer and fishermen's houses.
- Forno de Cal beach
Area of occurrence of coastal erosion, has now containment 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. It is the site/point where boats and rafts cross the Jaguaribe River to the Coroa do Avião beach islet. Also, it has an Ibama center of sea mammals (Trichechus manatus) for their lives preservation and studies. It's got calm waters and many bars.
- Enseada dos Golfinhos beach
Its name means "dolphins bay". It has mangal vegetation and some sands banks. It's suitable for swimming. Unlike what the name suggests, there are no dolphins in this area. In Pernambuco, just Fernando de Noronha is visited by these animals.
- São Paulo beach
It has extensive sand banks, reefs and tide pools.
- Sossego beach
Its name means "tranquility". It has mangrove vegetation, sand banks and natural pools. The Jaguaribe River estuary flows there.
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
| HDI (2000) | Hospitals (2012) | Hospitals beds (2007) | Children's Mortality every 1000 (2005) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.743 | 1 | 363 | 9.0 |
Penal Facilities
Itamaraca island has a judicial asylum, a maximum security prison and a semi-open facility.
Gallery
-
Ilha de Itamaracá Beach
-
Ilha de Itamaracá estuary
-
Estuary
-
Fort Orange
-
Forte Orange
See also
References
- ↑ Vocabulario Tupi
- ↑ FERREIRA, A. B. H. Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa. Segunda edição. Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, 1986. p. 1087
- ↑ IBGE Population 2009 Itamaraca, page 33
- ↑ http://www.cprh.pe.gov.br/monitoramento/balneabilidade/balneabilidade.asp
- ↑ http://www.cprh.pe.gov.br/monitoramento/balneabilidade/balneabilidade.asp
- ↑ Itamaraca 2007 GDP IBGE page 30
- ↑ PE State site - City by city profile