tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91863872732143225902024-02-02T04:58:26.539+00:00GO TRAVEL PLANETTravelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.comBlogger665125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-43097277196129912692013-02-01T15:59:00.000+00:002012-02-01T15:59:54.513+00:00Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-23706337240242379822012-06-25T21:28:00.001+01:002011-07-26T17:08:47.415+01:00<table border="1" bordercolor="white"><tbody><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/cayman-islands-caribbean.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_55Z8KvvbIpM/S6z0OfvvUTI/AAAAAAAAB58/mB7jlNr0WFM/s640/DSC03621.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/jamaica-caribbean.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_55Z8KvvbIpM/S6z3-abYAjI/AAAAAAAACDk/AF-ZG_tGDE4/s512/DSCF8668.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/bahamas-caribbean.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_55Z8KvvbIpM/S6zx5i05CdI/AAAAAAAAB3M/oDkv0B8eDYE/s640/IMG_6086.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/11/puerto-rico.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_d7tYB-o9aNY/TOAGzyROptI/AAAAAAAAAiM/0S6Jmj3XZFE/s640/IMG_6299.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2011/05/colombia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_BnkGGCHzhas/TdLqzXevykI/AAAAAAAAEtc/uTUjycA0QLg/colombia.png" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/cayman-islands-caribbean.html" target="blank">Cayman Islands</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/jamaica-caribbean.html" target="blank">Jamaica</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/03/bahamas-caribbean.html" target="">The Bahamas</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2010/11/puerto-rico.html" target="">Puerto Rico</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2011/05/colombia.html" target="">Colombia</a></td></tr><tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/peru.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SuCjfmRRtSI/AAAAAAAAPPk/assdOv8UU-s/s320/DSC_0081.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ecuador.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SumbgnblqzI/AAAAAAAAPzQ/YY4PnouKcyI/s320/DSC_0016.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/galapagos-islands-ecuador.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SumbJS9krBI/AAAAAAAAPy4/jy_ruCfRz48/s320/DSC_0238.jpg" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SumbJS9krBI/AAAAAAAAPy4/jy_ruCfRz48/s320/DSC_0238.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/japan.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_55Z8KvvbIpM/SvR7ZECW_yI/AAAAAAAABus/lHeZYcYIjYA/s576/DSC_0103-2.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/monaco.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SFu-OKkPTwI/AAAAAAAADII/jzmRdZafW58/s320/IMAGE0156.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/peru.html" target="blank">Peru</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/ecuador.html" target="blank">Ecuador</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/galapagos-islands-ecuador.html" target="">Galapagos Islands</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/10/japan.html" target="">Japan</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/monaco.html" target="">Monaco</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/07/mexico.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SG0T_VTpJRI/AAAAAAAAEXc/zxEe3NPunC4/s320/IMG_1224.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/egypt.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA5Awe21cNI/AAAAAAAAAuA/GHdkFaIyF1A/s200/Pyramids,+Egypt.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/china.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA424-21b9I/AAAAAAAAAsE/uWnuHtKrevQ/s320/Beiging,+china.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/07/alaska-usa.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SIdv3nMmqiI/AAAAAAAAE74/TRRwiQ0wKMY/s320/CONVAR119.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/05/hawaii.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3GamBJuupIErvZFBc-18LWMCiSYlDhnTwE-QMfEvVl-GE05tRmiWRQyr1nlN3C9VogRmQOwmO8v_1wQWI7z7PS4Zv4qNV3HGFKl4DmFMfEu7PJwJ3dBQRZ8hXXim0Qs8fiWFAHEOiWms/s200/Hawaii.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/07/mexico.html" target="blank">Mexico</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/egypt.html" target="blank">Egypt</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/china.html" target="">China</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/07/alaska-usa.html" target="">Alaska</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/05/hawaii.html" target="">Hawaii</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/10/costa-rica.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44Y-21cEI/AAAAAAAAAs4/o0mHhGFxgLs/s200/Costa+Rica.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/morocco.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA5CA-21cPI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/hf__qG3iQ9g/s200/Rabat,Morocco.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/hungary.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44PO21cCI/AAAAAAAAAso/b8thdPlgPFk/s200/Budapest,+Hungary.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/france.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44xe21cLI/AAAAAAAAAtw/bIx8naThu0Y/s200/Paris,+France.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/scotland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44gO21cGI/AAAAAAAAAtI/kHqI4d5Mpxg/s200/Edimburgh,+scotland.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/10/costa-rica.html" target="">Costa Rica</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/morocco.html" target="">Morocco</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/hungary.html" target="">Hungary</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/france.html" target="">France</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/scotland.html" target="">Scothland</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/belgium.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44Je21cBI/AAAAAAAAAsg/1pvETYpj2RA/s200/Brugges,+Belgium.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/finland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44nO21cII/AAAAAAAAAtY/MQ99e-TIoAA/s200/Helsinki,+Finland.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/switzerland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfD250esYI/AAAAAAAAE5w/I64DdHD_rXg/s320/luzerna4.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHe-6SmtGlI/AAAAAAAAE3g/JUrzov5D1Y0/s320/Berlin31.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/austria.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHe-6hsjbqI/AAAAAAAAE3o/CoQeBg1pE_0/s320/Viena32.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/belgium.html" target="">Belgium</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/finland.html" target="">Finland</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/switzerland.html" target="">Switzerland</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/germany.html" target="">Germany</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/austria.html" target="">Austria</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/sweden.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfD2hwad8I/AAAAAAAAE5o/YxK9-1ILhzw/s320/DSCN4615.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/croatia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2H0JahyphenhyphenTfqkzhl9JZRp_5d1Zid1uCcC061NJx5sasm_2ACZUFhaVqcfLHrW4RHezluixJ_Rb2k2TjUwEgDTKq57xNx68kHQGX22_ZWwA48Tvk_z9YRieuIbHSMTmFEUvIIg6VaYdBBPY/s320/fotos+1084.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/slovenia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHe-9XGAKcI/AAAAAAAAE4A/AVGsQ9Rk0gE/s320/100_2298.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/holland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfCka0LMcI/AAAAAAAAE4I/Wf0SJJL1QHY/s320/Amsterdam6.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/slovakia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHe-8zK5zNI/AAAAAAAAE34/1WWsLdE11Yk/s320/fotos+500.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/sweden.html" target="">Sweden</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/croatia.html" target="">Croatia</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/slovenia.html" target="">Slovenia</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/holland.html" target="">Neatherland</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/slovakia.html" target="">Slovakia</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/england.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfCkhvQUXI/AAAAAAAAE4Q/H4r-bezkkRA/s320/IMAGE0302.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/italy.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfDgOsbY1I/AAAAAAAAE4w/jIojRPl5F8Y/s320/fotos+876.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/ireland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfClFgJmyI/AAAAAAAAE4Y/Ct_f9pBLJoo/s320/100_0408.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/latvia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfCl7N-HXI/AAAAAAAAE4o/9GulxJXFEjo/s320/DSCN4720.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/lithuania.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfDgYSScVI/AAAAAAAAE44/PWWXLfLTwRw/s320/DSCN4902.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/england.html" target="">England</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/italy.html" target="">Italy</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/ireland.html" target="">Ireland</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/latvia.html" target="">Latvia</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/lithuania.html" target="">Lithuania</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/10/spain.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SQh6er0lfSI/AAAAAAAAKDM/zhUj8dUwQgQ/s320/sf.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/portugal.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SFrPd1CJwHI/AAAAAAAADEQ/UWN9cNRmJh8/s320/IMAGE0351.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/poland.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SHfDiMco72I/AAAAAAAAE5Q/9Gx-C6RZs3Y/s320/100_2995.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/07/canada.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SmC8mr7X2iI/AAAAAAAAPJI/iUKaA8Kxe4Q/s320/DSC_0170.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/united-states.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SElaLS7hR6I/AAAAAAAABVM/orBf-XMaN8o/s320/100_4976.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/10/spain.html" target="">Spain</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/portugal.html" target="">Portugal</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/poland.html" target="">Poland</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2009/07/canada.html" target="">Canada</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/united-states.html" target="">United States</a></td></tr><tr><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/denmark.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA44S-21cDI/AAAAAAAAAsw/ywV1HOTBbZo/s200/Copenhagen,+Denmark.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/estonia.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Eg1ks9CXra8/SA5CPu21cTI/AAAAAAAAAuw/SwHOBA4uqD4/s200/Tallin,+Estonia.JPG" width="140" height="110" /></a></td><td bordercolor="#cccccc" border="3"><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/luxembourg.html" target="_blank"><img style="CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244394799898026002" border="0" alt="" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_55Z8KvvbIpM/SvhW1us2hTI/AAAAAAAABvM/p6bCd5EpGHQ/luxembourg.jpg" width="140" height="110" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/denmark.html" target="">Denmark</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/estonia.html" target="">Estonia</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2008/06/luxembourg.html" target="">Luxembourg</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-67918148532886907902012-03-09T21:59:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:25:23.683+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Amazonas Jungle / Amazon Jungle</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Amazon Rainforest (in Portuguese, Floresta Amazônica or Amazônia; Spanish Selva Amazónica, Amazonía or usually Amazonia), also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon Basin of South America. This basin encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion acres), of which five and a half million square kilometers (1.4 billion acres) are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. States or departments in four nations contain "Amazonas" in their names. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests, and it comprises the largest and most species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world.The rainforest likely formed during the Eocene era. It appeared following a global reduction of tropical temperatures when the Atlantic Ocean had widened sufficiently to provide a warm, moist climate to the Amazon basin. The rain forest has been in existence for at least 55 million years, and most of the region remained free of savanna-type biomes at least until the current ice age, when the climate was drier and savanna more widespread.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-41NpHBu3xzw/T006qYubcSI/AAAAAAAAAEg/B6uLUbgadfQ/w500-h334-k/DSC_0032.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-41NpHBu3xzw/T006qYubcSI/AAAAAAAAAEg/B6uLUbgadfQ/w500-h334-k/DSC_0032.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bSfr2M8Opu4/T006pWZzb8I/AAAAAAAAAEI/mYapAPW9vrg/w500-h334-k/DSC_0026.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-bSfr2M8Opu4/T006pWZzb8I/AAAAAAAAAEI/mYapAPW9vrg/w500-h334-k/DSC_0026.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d7htAmRVprI/T007q1b4XvI/AAAAAAAAAWc/azzPXyXM0XU/w465-h350-k/IMG_8368.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-d7htAmRVprI/T007q1b4XvI/AAAAAAAAAWc/azzPXyXM0XU/w465-h350-k/IMG_8368.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_bYyBMdLhvc/T007IgvcDII/AAAAAAAAANk/m7Xk5NPw-ms/w500-h336-k/DSC_0216.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_bYyBMdLhvc/T007IgvcDII/AAAAAAAAANk/m7Xk5NPw-ms/w500-h336-k/DSC_0216.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Following the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, the extinction of the dinosaurs and the wetter climate may have allowed the tropical rainforest to spread out across the continent. From 65–34 Mya, the rainforest extended as far south as 45°. Climate fluctuations during the last 34 million years have <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S2Sor0fmN8I/T006p4VWWLI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/jwh1Mq46sME/w500-h334-k/DSC_0029.JPG "/>allowed savanna regions to expand into the tropics. During the Oligocene, for example, the rainforest spanned a relatively narrow band that lay mostly above latitude 15°N. It expanded again during the Middle Miocene, then retracted to a mostly inland formation at the last glacial maximum. However, the rainforest still managed to thrive during these glacial periods, allowing for the survival and evolution of a broad diversity of species. During the mid-Eocene, it is believed that the drainage basin of the Amazon was split along the middle of the continent by the Purus Arch. Water on the eastern side flowed toward the Atlantic, while to the west water flowed toward the Pacific across the Amazonas Basin. As the Andes Mountains rose, however, a large basin was created that enclosed a lake; now known as the Solimões Basin. Within the last 5–10 million years, this accumulating water broke through the Purus Arch, joining the easterly flow toward the Atlantic. There is evidence that there have been significant changes in Amazon rainforest vegetation over the last 21,000 years through the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and subsequent deglaciation. Analyses of sediment deposits from Amazon basin paleolakes and from the Amazon Fan indicate that rainfall in the basin during the LGM was lower than for the present, and this was almost certainly associated with reduced moist tropical vegetation cover in the basin. There is debate, however, over how extensive this reduction was. Some scientists argue that the rainforest was reduced to small, isolated refugia separated by open forest and grassland; other scientists argue that the rainforest remained largely intact but extended less far to the north, south, and east than is seen today. This debate has proved difficult to resolve because the practical limitations of working in the rainforest mean that data sampling is biased away from the center of the Amazon basin, and both explanations are reasonably well supported by the available data. Based on archaeological evidence from an excavation at Caverna da Pedra Pintada, human inhabitants first settled in the Amazon region at least 11,200 years ago. Subsequent development led to late-prehistoric settlements along the periphery of the forest by 1250 AD, which induced alterations in the forest cover. Biologists believe that a population density of 0.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (0.52 /sq mi) is the maximum that can be sustained in the rain forest through hunting. Hence, agriculture is needed to host a larger population. Some 5 to 7 million people lived in the Amazon region, divided between dense coastal settlements, such as that at Marajó, and inland dwellers. For a long time, it was believed that those inland dwellers were sparsely populated hunter-gatherer tribes. Archeologist Betty J. Meggers was a prominent proponent of this idea, as described in her book Amazonia: Man and Culture in a Counterfeit Paradise. However, recent archeological findings have suggested that the region was actually densely populated. One of the main pieces of evidence is the existence of the fertile Terra preta (black earth), which is distributed over large areas in the Amazon forest. It is now widely accepted that these soils are a product of indigenous soil management. The development of this soil allowed agriculture and silviculture in the previously hostile environment; meaning that large portions of the Amazon rainforest are probably the result of centuries of human management, rather than naturally occurring as has previously been supposed. In the region of the Xinguanos tribe, remains of some of these large settlements in the middle of the Amazon forest were found in 2003 by Michael Heckenberger and colleagues of the University of Florida. Among those were evidence of roads, bridges and large plazas. The first European to travel the length of the Amazon River was Francisco de Orellana in 1542. Wet tropical forests are the most species-rich biome, and tropical forests in the Americas are consistently more species rich than the wet forests in Africa and Asia. As the largest tract of tropical rainforest in the Americas, the Amazonian rainforests have unparalleled biodiversity. One in ten known species in the world lives in the Amazon Rainforest. This constitutes the largest collection of living plants and animal species in the world. The region is home to about 2.5 million insect species, tens of thousands of plants, and some 2,000 birds and mammals. To <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qp0VWDWrDSg/T007HsP-5lI/AAAAAAAAANM/Yv2fPnRBFsk/w245-h270-n-k/DSC_0207.JPG "/>date, at least 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fishes, 1,294 birds, 427 mammals, 428 amphibians, and 378 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the region. One in five of all the bird species in the world live in the rainforests of the Amazon, and one in five of the fish species live in Amazonian rivers and streams. Scientists have described between 96,660 and 128,843 invertebrate species in Brazil alone. The biodiversity of plant species is the highest on Earth with some experts estimating that one square kilometer (247 acres) may contain more than a thousand types of trees and thousands of species of other higher plants. According to a 2001 study, a quarter square kilometer (62 acres) of Ecuadorian rainforest supports more than 1,100 tree species. One square kilometer (247 acres) of Amazon rainforest can contain about 90,790 tonnes of living plants. The average plant biomass is estimated at 356 ± 47 tonnes per hectare. To date, an estimated 438,000 species of plants of economic and social interest have been registered in the region with many more remaining to be discovered or catalogued. The green leaf area of plants and trees in the rainforest varies by about 25% as a result of seasonal changes. Leaves expand during the dry season when sunlight is at a maximum, then undergo abscission in the cloudy wet season. These changes provide a balance of carbon between photosynthesis and respiration. The rainforest contains several species that can pose a hazard. Among the largest predatory creatures are the black caiman, jaguar, cougar, and anaconda. In the river, electric eels can produce an electric shock that can stun or kill, while piranha are known to bite and injure humans. Various species of poison dart frogs secrete lipophilic alkaloid toxins through their flesh. There are also numerous parasites and disease vectors. Vampire bats dwell in the rainforest and can spread the rabies virus. Malaria, yellow fever and Dengue fever can also be contracted in the Amazon region. Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forested areas. The main sources of deforestation in the Amazon are human settlement and development of the land. Prior to the early 1960s, access to the forest's interior was highly restricted, and the forest remained basically intact. Farms established during the 1960s were based on crop cultivation and the slash and burn method. However, the colonists were unable to manage their fields and the crops because of the loss of soil fertility and weed invasion. The soils in the Amazon are productive for just a short period of time, so farmers are constantly moving to new areas and clearing more land. These farming practices led to deforestation and caused extensive environmental damage. Deforestation is considerable, and areas cleared of forest are visible to the naked eye from outer space. Between 1991 and 2000, the total area of forest lost in the Amazon rose from 415,000 to 587,000 square kilometres (160,000 to 227,000 sq mi), with most of the lost forest becoming pasture for cattle. Seventy percent of formerly forested land in the Amazon, and 91% of land deforested since 1970, is used for livestock pasture. In addition, Brazil is currently the second-largest global producer of soybeans after the United States. The needs of soy farmers have been used to validate many of the controversial transportation projects that are currently developing in the Amazon. The first two highways successfully <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cyCFAsghppc/T0062LobMqI/AAAAAAAAAHs/Bf_ar1n1MIE/w257-h229-n-k/DSC_0116.JPG "/>opened up the rain forest and led to increased settlement and deforestation. The mean annual deforestation rate from 2000 to 2005 (22,392 km2 or 8,646 sq mi per year) was 18% higher than in the previous five years (19,018 km2 or 7,343 sq mi per year). Deforestation has declined significantly in the Brazilian Amazon since 2004. Environmentalists are concerned about loss of biodiversity that will result from destruction of the forest, and also about the release of the carbon contained within the vegetation, which could accelerate global warming. Amazonian evergreen forests account for about 10% of the world's terrestrial primary productivity and 10% of the carbon stores in ecosystems—of the order of 1.1 × 1011 metric tonnes of carbon. Amazonian forests are estimated to have accumulated 0.62 ± 0.37 tons of carbon per hectare per year between 1975 and 1996. One computer model of future climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions shows that the Amazon rainforest could become unsustainable under conditions of severely reduced rainfall and increased temperatures, leading to an almost complete loss of rainforest cover in the basin by 2100. However, simulations of Amazon basin climate change across many different models are not consistent in their estimation of any rainfall response, ranging from weak increases to strong decreases. The result indicates that the rainforest could be threatened though the 21st century by climate change in addition to deforestation. In 1989, environmentalist C.M. Peters and two colleagues stated there is economic as well as biological incentive to protecting the rainforest. One hectare in the Peruvian Amazon has been calculated to have a value of $6820 if intact forest is sustainably harvested for fruits, latex, and timber; $1000 if clear-cut for commercial timber (not sustainably harvested); or $148 if used as cattle pasture. As indigenous territories continue to be destroyed by deforestation and ecocide, such as in the Peruvian Amazon indigenous peoples' rainforest communities continue to disappear, while others, like the Urarina continue to struggle to fight for their cultural survival and the fate of their forested territories. Meanwhile, the relationship between non-human primates in the subsistence and symbolism of indigenous lowland South American peoples has gained increased attention, as has ethno-biology and community-based conservation efforts. From 2002 to 2006, the conserved land in the Amazon rainforest has almost tripled and deforestation rates have dropped up to 60%. About 1,000,000 square kilometres (250,000,000 acres) have been put onto some sort of conservation, which adds up to a current amount of 1,730,000 square kilometres (430,000,000 acres). The use of remotely sensed data is dramatically improving conservationists' knowledge of the Amazon Basin. Given the objectivity and lowered costs of satellite-based land cover analysis, it appears likely that remote sensing technology will be an integral part of assessing the extent and damage of deforestation in the basin. Furthermore, remote sensing is the best and perhaps only possible way to study the Amazon on a large-scale. The use of remote sensing for the conservation of the Amazon is also being used by the indigenous tribes of the basin to protect their tribal lands from commercial interests. Using handheld GPS devices and programs like Google Earth, members of the Trio Tribe, who live in the rainforests of southern Suriname, map out their ancestral lands to help strengthen their territorial claims. Currently, most tribes in the Amazon do not have clearly defined boundaries, making it easier for commercial ventures to target their territories. To accurately map the Amazon's biomass and subsequent carbon related emissions, the classification of <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wRKyoufAzwM/T0061DjUmJI/AAAAAAAAAHc/lHzJHTC1JrM/w362-h344-k/DSC_0113%2B-%2BCopy.JPG "/>tree growth stages within different parts of the forest is crucial. In 2006 Tatiana Kuplich organized the trees of the Amazon into four categories: (1) mature forest, (2) regenerating forest , (3) regenerating forest , and (4) regenerating forest. The researcher used a combination of Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Thematic Mapper (TM) to accurately place the different portions of the Amazon into one of the four classifications. In 2005, parts of the Amazon basin experienced the worst drought in one hundred years, and there were indications that 2006 could have been a second successive year of drought. A July 23, 2006 article in the UK newspaper The Independent reported Woods Hole Research Center results showing that the forest in its present form could survive only three years of drought. Scientists at the Brazilian National Institute of Amazonian Research argue in the article that this drought response, coupled with the effects of deforestation on regional climate, are pushing the rainforest towards a "tipping point" where it would irreversibly start to die. It concludes that the forest is on the brink of being turned into savanna or desert, with catastrophic consequences for the world's climate. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature, the combination of climate change and deforestation increases the drying effect of dead trees that fuels forest fires. In 2010 the Amazon rainforest experienced another severe drought, in some ways more extreme than the 2005 drought. The affected region was approximate 1,160,000 square miles (3,000,000 km2) of rainforest, compared to 734,000 square miles (1,900,000 km2) in 2005. The 2010 drought had three epicenters where vegetation died off, whereas in 2005 the drought was focused on the southwestern part. The findings were published in the journal Science. In a typical year the Amazon absorbs 1.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide; during 2005 instead 5 gigatons were released and in 2010 8 gigatons were released.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-51486778398061944032012-03-09T21:00:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:25:18.275+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Amazonas River / Amazon River</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Amazon River in South America is the second longest in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined (not including Madeira and Rio Negro, which are tributaries of the Amazon). The Amazon, which has the largest drainage basin in the world, about 7,050,000 square kilometres (2,720,000 sq mi), accounts for approximately one-fifth of the world's total river flow. In its upper stretches, above the confluence of the Negro River, the Amazon is called Solimões in Brazil; however, in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, as well as the rest of the Spanish-speaking world, the river is generally called the Amazon downstream from the confluence of the amzonas marenoas and Ucayali rivers in Peru. The Ucayali-Apurímac river system is considered the main source of the Amazon.The width of the Amazon varies between 1.6 and 10 kilometres (1.0 and 6.2 mi) at low stage, but expands during the wet season to 48 kilometres (30 mi) or more. The river enters the Atlantic Ocean in a broad estuary about 240 kilometres (150 mi) wide. The mouth of the main stem is 80 kilometres (50 mi). Because of its vast dimensions, it is sometimes called The River Sea. The first bridge in the Amazon river system (over the Rio Negro) opened on October 10 2010. It is just outside <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus</a>.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dbwv99oxVZw/T0060SztUcI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Y9Az20MM5WM/w669-h448-k/DSC_0090.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-dbwv99oxVZw/T0060SztUcI/AAAAAAAAAHI/Y9Az20MM5WM/w669-h448-k/DSC_0090.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bGmMY1ju2hI/T006xzUulkI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ySZpwYx8Nbo/w500-h335-k/DSC_0072.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bGmMY1ju2hI/T006xzUulkI/AAAAAAAAAGY/ySZpwYx8Nbo/w500-h335-k/DSC_0072.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WbyPtetWYbo/T0063kSn86I/AAAAAAAAAIY/qFOElyY8iBo/w247-h221-n-k/DSC_0123.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WbyPtetWYbo/T0063kSn86I/AAAAAAAAAIY/qFOElyY8iBo/w247-h221-n-k/DSC_0123.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-53r2cZgENIc/T0065HHfaeI/AAAAAAAAAI4/CBXLtOVDp3o/w500-h335-k/DSC_0135.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-53r2cZgENIc/T0065HHfaeI/AAAAAAAAAI4/CBXLtOVDp3o/w500-h335-k/DSC_0135.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>The Amazon Basin, the largest in the world, covers about 30% of South America, an area of approximately 7.050.000 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi). It flows from west to east from Iquitos in Peru to <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-A8uW2gaXyXY/T00685tmW_I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/myQiL7R8CrE/w500-h335-k/DSC_0154.JPG "/> all the way across Brazil to the Atlantic. It gathers its waters from 5 degrees north latitude to 20 degrees south latitude. Its most remote sources are found on the inter-Andean plateau, just a short distance from the Pacific Ocean. The Amazon River and its tributaries are characterized by extensive forested areas that become flooded every rainy season. Every year the river rises more than 9 metres (30 ft), flooding the surrounding forests, known as várzea ("flooded forests"). The Amazon's flooded forests are the most extensive example of this habitat type in the world. In an average dry season, 110,000 square kilometres (42,000 sq mi) of land are water-covered, while in the wet season, the flooded area of the Amazon Basin rises to 350,000 square kilometres (140,000 sq mi). The quantity of water released by the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean is enormous: up to 300,000 cubic metres per second (11,000,000 cu ft/s) in the rainy season, with an average of 209,000 cubic metres per second (7,400,000 cu ft/s) from 1973 to 1990. The Amazon is responsible for about 20% of the Earth's fresh water entering the ocean. The river pushes a vast plume of fresh water into the ocean. The plume is about 400 kilometres (250 mi) long and between 100 and 200 kilometres (62 and 120 mi) wide. The fresh water, being lighter, overrides the salty ocean, diluting the salinity and altering the color of the ocean surface over an area up to 1,000,000 square miles (2,600,000 km2) large. For centuries ships have reported fresh water near the Amazon's mouth yet well out of sight of land in what otherwise seemed to be the open ocean. The Atlantic has sufficient wave and tidal energy to carry most of the Amazon's sediments out to sea, thus the Amazon does not form a true delta. The great deltas of the world are all in relatively protected bodies of water while the Amazon empties directly into the turbulent Atlantic. The tidal bore is the reason the Amazon does not have a protruding delta; the ocean rapidly carries away the vast volume of silt carried by the Amazon, <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O3CHie4eLzM/T0066_rXRuI/AAAAAAAAAJY/zu-iEQJlL_o/w500-h335-k/DSC_0148.JPG "/> making it impossible for a delta to grow past the shoreline. There is a natural water union between the Amazon and the Orinoco basins, the so-called Casiquiare canal. The Casiquiare is a river distributary of the upper Orinoco, which flows southward into the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Amazon. The Casiquiare is the largest river on the planet that links two major river systems, a so-called bifurcation. The Amazon river has a series of major river systems in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, some of which flow into the Marañón and Ucayali, others directly into the Amazon proper. Among others, these include the following rivers: Putumayo, Caquetá, Vaupés, Guainía, Morona, Pastaza, Nucuray, Urituyacu, Chambira, Tigre, Nanay, Napo, and Huallaga. The most distant source of the Amazon was established in 1996, 2001, 2007, and 2008, as a glacial stream on a snowcapped 5,597 m (18,363 ft) peak called Nevado Mismi in the Peruvian Andes, roughly 160 km (99 mi) west of Lake Titicaca and 700 km (430 mi) southeast of Lima. The waters from Nevado Mismi flow into the Quebradas Carhuasanta and Apacheta, which flow into the Río Apurímac which is a tributary of the Ucayali which later joins the Marañón to form the Amazon proper. While the Ucayali–Marañón confluence is the point at which most geographers place the beginning of the Amazon proper, in Brazil the river is known at this point as the Solimões das Águas. Further downriver from that confluence the darkly colored waters of the Rio Negro meet the sandy colored Rio Solimões, and for over 6 km (4 mi) these waters run side by side without mixing. After the confluence of Río Apurímac and Ucayali, the river leaves Andean terrain and is instead surrounded by floodplain. From this point to the Marañón, some 1,600 km (990 mi), the forested banks are just out of water, and are inundated long before the river attains its maximum flood stage. The low river banks are interrupted by only a few hills, and the river enters the enormous Amazon Rainforest. <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-832E5sGK4aU/T008IS6o88I/AAAAAAAAAg4/58D9dBYU2sQ/w456-h342-k/IMG_8515.JPG "/> The river systems and flood plains in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela, whose waters drain into the Solimões and its tributaries are called the "Upper Amazon". The Amazon River proper runs mostly through Brazil and Peru, it is part of the border between Colombia and Perú, and it has tributaries reaching into Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia. Not all of the Amazon's tributaries flood at the same time of the year. Many branches begin flooding in November, and may continue to rise until June. The rise of the Rio Negro starts in February or March, and begins to recede in June. The Madeira River rises and falls two months earlier than most of the rest of the Amazon. The average depth of the Amazon between Manacapuru and Óbidos has been calculated as between 20 to 26 metres (66 to 85 ft). At Manacapuru the Amazon's water level is only about 24 metres (79 ft) above mean sea level. More than half of the water in the Amazon downstream of Manacapuru is below sea level. In its lowermost section the Amazon's depth averages 20 to 50 metres (66 to 160 ft), in some places as much as 100 metres (330 ft). The main river is navigable for large ocean steamers to <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>, 1,500 kilometres (930 mi) upriver from the mouth. Smaller ocean vessels of 3,000 tons or 9,000 tons and 5.5 metres (18 ft) draft can reach as far as Iquitos, Peru, 3,600 kilometres (2,200 mi) from the sea. Smaller riverboats can reach 780 kilometres (480 mi) higher as far as Achual Point. Beyond that, small boats frequently ascend to the Pongo de Manseriche, just above Achual Point. At some points the river divides into anabranchs, or multiple channels, often very long, with inland and lateral channels, all connected by a complicated system of natural canals, cutting the low, flat igapó lands, which are never more than 5 metres (16 ft) above low river, into many islands. From the town of Canaria at the great bend of the Amazon to the Negro, only very low land is found, resembling that at the mouth of the river. <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iIHzH3tGPsk/T009epH9QLI/AAAAAAAAAzo/0KKY_n42vdk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0142.JPG "/> Vast areas of land in this region are submerged at high water, above which only the upper part of the trees of the sombre forests appear. Near the mouth of the Rio Negro to Serpa, nearly opposite the river Madeira, the banks of the Amazon are low, until approaching <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>, they rise to become rolling hills. At Óbidos, a bluff 17 m (56 ft) above the river is backed by low hills. The lower Amazon seems to have once been a gulf of the Atlantic Ocean, the waters of which washed the cliffs near Óbidos. Only about ten percent of the Amazon's water enters downstream of Óbidos, very little of which is from the northern slope of the valley. The drainage area of the Amazon Basin above Óbidos city is about 5,000,000 square kilometres (1,900,000 sq mi), and, below, only about 1,000,000 square kilometres (390,000 sq mi) (around 20%), exclusive of the 1,400,000 square kilometres (540,000 sq mi) of the Tocantins basin. The Tocantins River enters the Amazon very close to its mouth. In the lower reaches of the river, the north bank consists of a series of steep, table-topped hills extending for about 240 kilometres (150 mi) from opposite the mouth of the Xingu as far as Monte Alegre. These hills are cut down to a kind of terrace which lies between them and the river. On the south bank, above the Xingu, an almost-unbroken line of low bluffs bordering the floodplain extends nearly to Santarém in a series of gentle curves before they bend to the southwest, and, abutting upon the lower Tapajós, merge into the bluffs which form the terrace margin of the Tapajós river valley. The definition of where exactly the mouth of the Amazon is located, and how wide it is, a matter of dispute, because of the area's peculiar geography. The Pará and the Amazon are connected by a series of river channels called furos near the town of Breves; between them lies Marajó, an island almost the size of Switzerland that is the world's largest combined river/sea island. If the Pará river and the Marajó island ocean frontage are included, the Amazon estuary is some 325 kilometres (202 mi) wide. In this case, the width of the mouth of the river is usually measured from Cable Note, in the Brazilian state of Amapá, to Ponta <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JtmwVzNiuz0/T009nVolnjI/AAAAAAAAAzo/2S70LZueqQ4/w500-h335-k/DSC_0172.JPG "/> da Tijoca near the town of Curuçá, in the state of Pará. By this criterion, the Amazon is wider at its mouth than the entire length of the River Thames in England. A more conservative measurement excluding the Pará river estuary, from the mouth of the Araguari River to Ponta do Navio on the northern coast of Marajó, would still give the mouth of the Amazon a width of over 180 kilometres (110 mi). If only the river's main channel is considered, between the islands of Curuá (state of Amapá) and Jurupari (state of Pará), the width falls to about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi). More than one-third of all species in the world live in the Amazon Rainforest, a giant tropical forest and river basin with an area that stretches more than 5,400,000 square kilometres (2,100,000 sq mi). It is the richest tropical forest in the world in terms of biodiversity. There are over 2,100 species of fish currently recognized in the Amazon Basin, with more being discovered every year. Along with the Orinoco, the Amazon is one of the main habitats of the boto, also known as the Amazon River Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis). It is the largest species of river dolphin, and it can grow to lengths of up to 2.6 miles (4.2 km). The color of its skin changes with age. It varies from gray when it is young, to pink and white as it matures. The dolphins use sonar to navigate and hunt in the river's tricky depths. The boto is the subject of a very famous legend in Brazil about a dolphin that turns into a man and seduces maidens by the riverside. The tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis), also a dolphin species, is found both in the rivers of the Amazon Basin and in the coastal waters of South America. The Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) also known as “seacow” is found in the northern Amazon <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-r5S7twiR0DY/T1YyRwt7h7I/AAAAAAAABDY/gSuBhyn9Ig4/w500-h375-k/PTDC0004.JPG "/> River Basin and its tributaries. It is a mammal and a herbivore. Its population is limited to fresh water habitats and unlike other manatees, they do not venture into salt water. It is classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The Amazon and its tributaries are the main habitat of the Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). The giant otter is a member of the weasel family and is the largest of its kind. Because of habitat destruction and hunting its population has dramatically decreased. The anaconda snake is found in shallow waters in the Amazon Basin. One of the world's largest species of snake, the anaconda spends most of its time in the water, with just its nostrils above the surface. In addition to the thousands of species of fish, the river supports crabs, algae, and turtles. The caiman, which is related to alligators and other crocodilians, also inhabits the Amazon. Caimans pose a serious threat to humans, as there have been recorded attacks. The Amazonian fish fauna is the center of diversity for Neotropical fishes, of which more than 5,600 species are currently known (Albert and Reis, 2011). The bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) has been reported 4,000 kilometres (2,500 mi) up the Amazon River at Iquitos in Peru. The arapaima, known in Brazil as the pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It is one of the largest fresh water fish in the world, reportedly with a maximum length in excess of 4.5 metres (15 ft) and weight up to 200 kilograms (440 lb). Another Amazonian fresh water fish is the arowana (or aruanã in Portuguese), such as the Silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), which is also a predator and very similar to the arapaima, but only reaches a length of maximum 120 centimetres (47 in). Also present in large numbers is the notorious <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html”>Piranha</a>, a carnivorous fish which congregates in large schools, and may attack livestock and even humans. There are approximately from 30 to 60 species of <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html”>Piranha</a>. However, only a few of its species are known to attack humans, most notably <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-0c4Ac8BL6yc/T1YyR-7jehI/AAAAAAAABDY/iB4e4hK0DSU/w500-h375-k/PTDC0005.JPG "/> Pygocentrus nattereri, the Red-bellied <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html”>Piranha</a>. The candirú are a number of general parasitic, fresh water catfish in the family Trichomycteridae; all are native to the Amazon River. The strongly electric electric eel (Electrophorus electricus) and more than 100 species of weakly-electric fishes Gymnotiformes also inhabit the Amazon Basin. In 1500, Vicente Yáñez Pinzón was the first European to sail into the river. Pinzón called the river flow Río Santa María del Mar Dulce, later shortened to Mar Dulce (literally, sweet sea, because of its fresh water pushing out into the ocean). For 350 years after the first European encounter of the Amazon by Pinzón, the Portuguese portion of the basin remained an untended former food gathering and planned agricultural landscape occupied by the <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html”>Indigenous</a> peoples who survived the arrival of European diseases. There is ample evidence for complex large-scale, pre-Columbian social formations, including chiefdoms, in many areas of Amazonia (particularly the inter-fluvial regions) and even large towns and cities. For instance the pre-Columbian culture on the island of Marajó may have developed social stratification and supported a population of 100,000 people. The Native Americans of the Amazon rain forest may have used Terra preta to make the land suitable for the large scale agriculture needed to support large populations and complex social formations such as chiefdoms. One of Gonzalo Pizarro's lieutenants, Francisco de Orellana, set off in 1541 to explore east of Quito into the South American interior in search of El Dorado and the "Country of Cinnamon". He was ordered to follow the Coca River and return when the river reached its confluence. After 170 km, the Coca River joined the Napo River (at a point now known as Puerto Francisco de Orellana), and his men threatened to mutiny if he followed his orders and the expedition turned back. On 26 December 1541, he accepted to change the purpose of the expedition to the conquest of new lands in the name of the King of Spain, and the forty-nine men built a larger boat in which to navigate downstream. After a journey of 600 km down the Napo River, constantly threatened by the Omaguas, they reached a further major confluence, at a point near modern Iquitos, and then followed what is now known as the Amazon River for a further 1200 km to its confluence with the Rio Negro (near modern <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>), which they reached on 3 June 1542. This area around the Amazon was dominated by the Icamiaba natives, who were mistaken for fierce female warriors by the members of the expedition. Orellana later narrated the belligerent victory of the Icamiaba “women” over the <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lu_b18njjmo/T006mYUUWhI/AAAAAAAAADY/yj1e5QTHHp0/w495-h332-k/DSC_0012.JPG "/> Spanish invaders to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who, recalling the Amazons of Greek mythology, baptized the river Amazonas, the name by which it is still known in both Spanish and Portuguese. At the time, however, the river was referred to by the expedition as Grande Río ("Great River"), Mar Dulce ("Fresh Water Sea") or Río de la Canela ("Cinnamon River"). Orellana claimed that he had found great cinnamon trees there, in other words a source of one of the most important spices reaching Europe from the East. In fact, true cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) is not native to South America. Other related cinnamon-containing plants (of the family Lauraceae) do occur and Orellana must have observed some of these. The expedition continued a further 1200 km to the mouth of the Amazon, which it reached on 24 August 1542, demonstrating the practical navigability of the Great River. This was surely one of the most improbably successful voyages in known history. In 1560, another Spanish conquistador, Lope de Aguirre, made the second descent of the Amazon. In 1637–47, the Portuguese explorer Pedro Teixeira was the first European to ascend the river from Belém, near the mouth, to Quito, part of the Spanish Viceroyalty of Peru, and then to return the same way. Teixeira's expedition was massive—some 2000 people in 37 large canoes. From 1648 to 1652, António Raposo Tavares lead one of the longest known expeditions from São Paulo to the mouth of the Amazon, investigating many of its tributaries, including the Rio Negro, and covering a distance of more than 10,000 km (6,214 mi). In what is currently Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela, a number of colonial and religious settlements were established along the banks of primary rivers and tributaries for the purpose of trade, slaving and evangelization among the <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html”>Indigenous</a> peoples of the vast rain forest, such as the Urarina. Father Fritz, apostle of the Omaguas, established some forty mission villages. Charles Marie de La Condamine accomplished the first scientific exploration of the Amazon River. Many <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html”>Indigenous</a> tribes engaged in constant warfare. According to James Stuart Olson, "The Munduruku expansion dislocated and displaced the Kawahib, breaking the tribe down into much smaller groups... first came to the attention of Europeans in 1770 when they began a series of <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8FX4eqDCwcI/T007qzcuGiI/AAAAAAAAAWg/NGmqh30DboY/w465-h350-k/IMG_8370.JPG "/> widespread attacks on Brazilian settlements along the Amazon River." The Cabanagem, one of the bloodiest regional wars ever in Brazil, which was chiefly directed against the white ruling class, reduced the population of Pará from about 100,000 to 60,000. The total population of the Brazilian portion of the Amazon Basin in 1850 was perhaps 300,000, of whom about two-thirds comprised by Europeans and slaves, the slaves amounting to about 25,000. The Brazilian Amazon's principal commercial city, Pará (now Belém), had from 10,000 to 12,000 inhabitants, including slaves. The town of Manáos, now <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>, at the mouth of the Rio Negro, had a population between 1,000 to 1,500. All the remaining villages, as far up as Tabatinga, on the Brazilian frontier of Peru, were relatively small. On 6 September 1850 the emperor, Pedro II, sanctioned a law authorizing steam navigation on the Amazon, and gave the Viscount of Mauá (Irineu Evangelista de Sousa) the task of putting it into effect. He organized the "Companhia de Navegação e Comércio do Amazonas" in Rio de Janeiro in 1852; and in the following year it commenced operations with three small steamers, the Monarch, the Marajó and Rio Negro. At first, navigation was principally confined to the main river; and even in 1857 a modification of the government contract only obliged the company to a monthly service between Pará and <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>, with steamers of 200 tons cargo capacity, a second line to make six round voyages a year between <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a> and Tabatinga, and a third, two trips a month between Pará and Cametá. This was the first step in opening up the vast interior. The success of the venture called attention to the opportunities for economic exploitation of the Amazon, and a second company soon opened commerce on the Madeira, Purus and Negro; a third established a line between Pará and <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>; and a fourth found it profitable to navigate some of the smaller streams. In that same period, the Amazonas Company was increasing its fleet. Meanwhile, private individuals were building and running small steam craft of their own on the main river as well as on many of its tributaries. On 31 July 1867 the government of Brazil, constantly pressed by the maritime powers and by the countries encircling the <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b_j2OtNP7FA/T009EdA9VwI/AAAAAAAAAzo/rwDTNQ1HX2E/w337-h225-n-k/DSC_0040.JPG "/> upper Amazon basin, especially Peru, decreed the opening of the Amazon to all flags; but limited this to certain defined points: Tabatinga – on the Amazon; Cametá – on the Tocantins; Santarém – on the Tapajós; Borba – on the Madeira, and <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a> – on the Rio Negro. The Brazilian decree took effect on 7 September 1867. Thanks in part to the mercantile development associated with steamboat navigation, coupled with the internationally driven demand for natural rubber (1880–1920), Manáos (now <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>) and Pará (now Belém) in (Brazil), and Iquitos, Peru became thriving, cosmopolitan centers of commerce and spectacular—albeit illusory—"modern" "urban growth". This was particularly the case for Iquitos during its late 19th and early 20th century Rubber Bonanza zenith when this dynamic boomtown was known abroad as the St. Louis of the Amazon. Foreign companies settled in this city, from where they controlled the extraction of rubber. In 1851 Iquitos had a population of 200 and by 1900 its population reached 20,000. In the 1860s, approximately 3,000 tons of rubber was being exported annually and by 1911 annual exports had grown to 44,000 tons, representing 9.3% of Peru’s exports. During the rubber boom it is estimated that diseases brought by immigrants such as typhus or malaria killed 40,000 native Amazonians. The first direct foreign trade with <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a> was commenced around 1874. Local trade along the river was carried on by the English successors to the Amazonas Company—the Amazon Steam Navigation Company—as well as numerous small steamboats, belonging to companies and firms engaged in the rubber trade, navigating the Negro, Madeira, Purus and many other tributaries, such as the Marañón to ports as distant as Nauta, Peru. The Amazon Steam Navigation Company had 38 vessels. By the turn of the 20th century, the principal exports of the Amazon Basin were India-rubber, cacao beans, Brazil nuts and a few other products of minor importance, such as pelts and exotic forest produce (resins, barks, woven hammocks, prized bird feathers, live animals, etc.) and extracted goods (lumber, gold, etc.). Four centuries after the European discovery of the Amazon river, the total cultivated area in its basin was probably less than 65 square kilometres (25 sq mi), excluding the limited and crudely cultivated areas among the mountains at its extreme headwaters. This situation changed dramatically during the 20th century. Wary of foreign exploitation of the nation's resources, Brazilian governments in the 1940s set out to develop the interior, away from the seaboard, where foreigners owned large tracts of land. The original architect of this expansion was President Getúlio Vargas, with the demand for rubber from the Allied forces in World War II providing funding for the drive. In 1960, the construction of the new capital city of Brasília in the interior also contributed to the opening up of the Amazon Basin. A large-scale colonization program saw families from Northeastern Brazil relocated to the forests, encouraged by promises of cheap land. Many <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-qu7pR619lmU/T009bltkRYI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Ny62STDF820/w500-h335-k/DSC_0124.JPG "/> settlements grew along the road from Brasília to Belém, but rainforest soil proved difficult to cultivate. Still, long-term development plans continued. Roads were cut through the forests, and in 1970, the work on the Trans-Amazonian highway (Transamazônica) network began. The network's three pioneering highways were completed within ten years, but never fulfilled their promise. Large portions of the Trans-Amazonian and its accessory roads, such as BR-319 (<a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a>-Porto Velho), are derelict and impassable in the rainy season. Small towns and villages are scattered across the forest and because its vegetation is so dense, some remote areas are still unexplored. With a current population of 1.8 million people, <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a> is the Amazon’s largest city. <a href=“http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html”>Manaus </a> alone represents approximately 50% of the population of the Brazilian state of Amazonas, which is the largest state. The racial makeup of the city is 64% Pardo (Mulatto and mestizo) and 32% White. While debate as to whether the Amazon or the Nile is the world's longest river has gone on for many years, the historic consensus of geographic authorities has been to regard the Amazon as the second longest river in the world, with the Nile being the longest. However, the Amazon has been measured by different geographers as being anywhere between 6,259 and 6,800 kilometres (3,889 and 4,200 mi) long. It is often said to be "at least" 6,400 kilometres (4,000 mi) long. The Nile is reported to be anywhere from 5,499 to 6,690 kilometres (3,417 to 4,160 mi). Often it is said to be "about" 6,650 kilometres (4,130 mi) long. There are many factors that can affect these measurements. A study by Brazilian scientists concluded that the Amazon is actually longer than the Nile. Using Nevado Mismi, which in 2001 was labeled by the National Geographic Society as the Amazon's source, these scientists made new calculations of the Amazon's length. They calculated the Amazon's length as 6,992 kilometres (4,345 mi). Using the same techniques they calculated the length of the Nile as 6,853 kilometres (4,258 mi), which is longer than previous estimates but still shorter than the Amazon. They made it possible by measuring the Amazon downstream to the beginning of the tidal estuary of Canal do Sul and then, after a sharp turn back, following tidal canals surrounding the isle of Marajó and finally including the marine Waters of the Río Pará bay in its entire length. Guido Gelli, director of science at the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), told the Brazilian TV network Globo in June 2007 that it could be considered as a fact that the Amazon was the longest river in the world. However, other geographers have had access to the same data since 2001, and a consensus has yet to emerge to support the claims of these Brazilian scientists. As of 2010 the length of both the Amazon and the Nile remains open to interpretation and continued debate. Scientists have discovered the longest underground river in the world, in Brazil, running for a length of 6,000 km at a <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-NjFhUmTUofg/T008KJhblII/AAAAAAAAAhY/c8xu50WRaZ4/w441-h332-k/IMG_8530.JPG "/> depth of nearly 4 km. It flows from the Andean foothills to the Atlantic coast in a nearly west-to-east direction like the Amazon River. The discovery was made public at a recent meeting of the Brazilian Geophysical Society in Rio de Janeiro. The river ‘Hamza,' named after the discoverer, an Indian-born scientist Valiya Mannathal Hamza who is working with the National Observatory at Rio, makes it the first and geologically unusual instance of a twin-river system flowing at different levels of the earth's crust in Brazil. If the slowing down of certain seismic waves caused by the damp spot helped uncover the underground ocean, the unusual temperature variation with depth measured in 241 inactive oil wells helped locate the subterranean river. Except for the flow direction, the Amazon and the Hamza have very different characteristics. The most obvious ones are their width and flow speed. While the former is 1 km to 100 km wide, the latter is 200 km to 400 km in width. But the flow speed is five meters per second in the Amazon and less than a millimeter per second speed in the Hamza. Several geological factors have played a vital role in the formation and existence of these subterranean water bodies. The underground ocean, discovered in 2007, has been formed when the plate carrying the Pacific Ocean bottom gets dragged and ends up under the continental plate. Water at such depths would normally escape upwards but the unusual conditions that exist along the eastern Pacific Rim allow the moisture to remain intact. In the case of the Hamza, the porous and permeable sedimentary rocks behave as conduits for the water to sink to greater depths. East-west trending faults and the karst topography present along the northern border of the Amazon basin may have some role in supplying water to the river. If the impermeable rocks stop the vertical flow, the west to east gradient of the topography directs it to flow towards the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike the Hamza, the 153 km-long underground river in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula and the 8.2 km-long Cabayugan River in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park in the Philippines have come into being thanks to the karst topography. Water in these places drills its way downward by dissolving the carbonate rock to form an extensive underground river system.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-39787766795689929882012-03-09T20:24:00.001+00:002012-03-09T22:25:11.834+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Meeting of the Waters</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Meeting of Waters is the confluence between the Rio Negro, a river with dark (almost black coloured) water, and the sandy-coloured Amazon River or Rio Solimões, as it is known the upper section of the Amazon in Brazil. For 6 km (3.7 mi) the river's waters run side by side without mixing. It is one of the main tourist attractions of Manaus, Brazil.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b_j2OtNP7FA/T009EdA9VwI/AAAAAAAAAzo/rwDTNQ1HX2E/w500-h335-k/DSC_0040.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b_j2OtNP7FA/T009EdA9VwI/AAAAAAAAAzo/rwDTNQ1HX2E/w500-h335-k/DSC_0040.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--E-61oaErf4/T009D1MN6FI/AAAAAAAAAzo/SMrIgPb1ULc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0036.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--E-61oaErf4/T009D1MN6FI/AAAAAAAAAzo/SMrIgPb1ULc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0036.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8FX4eqDCwcI/T007qzcuGiI/AAAAAAAAAWg/NGmqh30DboY/w465-h350-k/IMG_8370.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8FX4eqDCwcI/T007qzcuGiI/AAAAAAAAAWg/NGmqh30DboY/w465-h350-k/IMG_8370.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b_j2OtNP7FA/T009EdA9VwI/AAAAAAAAAzo/rwDTNQ1HX2E/w500-h335-k/DSC_0040.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b_j2OtNP7FA/T009EdA9VwI/AAAAAAAAAzo/rwDTNQ1HX2E/w500-h335-k/DSC_0040.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>This phenomenon is due to the differences in temperature, speed and water density of the two rivers. The Rio Negro flows at near 2 km per hour at a temperature of 28°C, while the Rio Solimões flows between 4 to 6 km per hour a temperature of 22°C.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-9413870834756394692012-03-09T20:19:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:25:07.312+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Water Lilies</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Water Lilies or Nymphaeaceae is a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains eight genera. There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus Nymphaea contains about 35 species across the Northern Hemisphere. The genus Victoria contains two species of giant water lilies and can be found in South America. Water lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers floating on the water surface. The leaves are round, with a radial notch in Nymphaea and Nuphar, but fully circular in Victoria. Water lilies are divided into two main categories: hardy and tropical. Hardy water lilies bloom only during the day, but tropical water lilies can bloom either during the day or at night, and are the only group to contain blue-flowered plants. Nymphaeaceae has been investigated systematically for decades because of the belief that they represent one of the earliest groups of angiosperms. Its position has been somewhat doubtful as the anatomy of these plants is more close to that of monocotyledons, while the venation of the leaves would indicate that they are dicotyledons. Nymphaeaceae is placed in the order Nymphaeales, which is the second diverging group of angiosperms after Amborella in the APG III-classification.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HKCLViA2jmQ/T009JWQXJWI/AAAAAAAAAzo/lUg5HnOvRWk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0061.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HKCLViA2jmQ/T009JWQXJWI/AAAAAAAAAzo/lUg5HnOvRWk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0061.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fuTJdYpt9tA/T009LvuNNLI/AAAAAAAAAzo/sR5usmrS7JE/w500-h335-k/DSC_0063.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fuTJdYpt9tA/T009LvuNNLI/AAAAAAAAAzo/sR5usmrS7JE/w500-h335-k/DSC_0063.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MU_x6SbfNjo/T009UMR9qyI/AAAAAAAAAzo/uPC93eYfGqU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0072.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MU_x6SbfNjo/T009UMR9qyI/AAAAAAAAAzo/uPC93eYfGqU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0072.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iWtpv9VE_yY/T009V8nhADI/AAAAAAAAAzo/C6LUR_tMOYk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0076.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-iWtpv9VE_yY/T009V8nhADI/AAAAAAAAAzo/C6LUR_tMOYk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0076.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Nymphaeaceae is a small family of three to six genera: Barclaya, Euryale, Nuphar, Nymphaea, Ondinea and Victoria. The genus Barclaya is sometimes given rank as its own family, Barclayaceae, on the basis of an extended perianth tube (combined sepals and petals) arising from the top of the ovary and by <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-QjtFrSvx94k/T009IFHnHeI/AAAAAAAAAzo/Bbl-s6FooYY/w337-h225-n-k/DSC_0059.JPG "/>stamens that are joined basally. However. molecular phylogenetic work includes it in Nymphaeaceae. The genus Ondinea has recently been shown to be a morphologically aberrant species of Nymphaea, and should be included in this genus. The genera Euryale, of far east Asia, and VIctoria, from South America, are closely related despite their geografic distans, but their relationship toward Nymphaea need further studies. The sacred lotus was once thought to be a water-lily, but is now recognized to be a highly modified eudicot in its own family Nelumbonaceae of the order Proteales. The Nymphaeaceae are aquatic, rhizomatous herbs. The family is further characterized by scattered vascular bundles in the stems, and frequent presence of latex, usually with distinct, stellate-branched sclereids projecting into the air canals. Hairs are simple, usually producing mucilage (slime). Leaves are alternate and spiral, opposite or occasionally whorled, simple, peltate or nearly so, entire to toothed or dissected, short to long Petiole (botanyiolate), with blade submerged, floating or emergent, with palmate to pinnate venation. Stipules are either present or absent. Flowers are solitary, bisexual, radial, with a long pedicel and usually floating or raised above the surface of the water, with girdling vascular bundles in receptacle. Tepals are 4-12, distinct to connate, imbricate, and often petal-like. Petals lacks or 8 to numerous, inconspicuous to showy, often intergrading with stamens. Stamens are 3 to numerous, the innermost sometimes represented by staminodes. Filaments are distinct, free or adnate to petaloid staminodes, slender and well differentiated from anthers to laminar and poorly differentiated from anthers; pollen grains usually monosulcate or lacking apertures. Carpels are 3 to numerous, distinct or connate. Fruit is an aggregate of nuts, a berry, or an irregularly dehiscent fleshy capsule. Seeds are often arillate, more or less lacking endosperm. The beautiful nature of water lilies has led to their widespread use as ornamental plants. The Mexican water lily, native to the gulf coast of North America, is planted throughout the continent. It has escaped from cultivation and become invasive in some areas, such as California's San Joaquin Valley. It can infest slow moving bodies of water and is difficult to eradicate. Populations can be controlled by cutting top growth. Herbicides can also be used to control populations using glyphosate and fluridone.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-35638861962540930632012-03-09T20:01:00.003+00:002012-03-09T22:25:02.512+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Spider</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms. Spiders are found worldwide on every continent except for Antarctica, and have become established in nearly every habitat with the exception of air and sea colonization. As of 2008, approximately 40,000 spider species, and 109 families have been recorded by taxonomists; however, there has been confusion within the scientific community as to how all these families should be classified, as evidenced by the over 20 different classifications that have been proposed since 1900. Anatomically, spiders differ from other arthropods in that the usual body segments are fused into two tagmata, the cephalothorax and abdomen, and joined by a small, cylindrical pedicel. Unlike insects, spiders do not have antennae. In all except the most primitive group, the Mesothelae, spiders have the most centralized nervous systems of all arthropods, as all their ganglia are fused into one mass in the cephalothorax. Unlike most arthropods, spiders have no extensor muscles in their limbs and instead extend them by hydraulic pressure.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9sE_f_uG96c/T1YwR7rKYwI/AAAAAAAAA7k/Ejnxe8_qCzc/w500-h375-k/Samuel%2BHolding%2Bspiders.jpg"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9sE_f_uG96c/T1YwR7rKYwI/AAAAAAAAA7k/Ejnxe8_qCzc/w500-h375-k/Samuel%2BHolding%2Bspiders.jpg "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tw1wg2HbZdc/T00789wdtkI/AAAAAAAAAcY/MJrwxY95q24/w294-h363-k/IMG_8443.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tw1wg2HbZdc/T00789wdtkI/AAAAAAAAAcY/MJrwxY95q24/w294-h363-k/IMG_8443.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QrBf5PLXvpU/T0062tTCrwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/CX1vPmTcqaU/w387-h332-k/DSC_0119.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QrBf5PLXvpU/T0062tTCrwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/CX1vPmTcqaU/w387-h332-k/DSC_0119.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS6R7UiBCco/T006tMSMINI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaWz09OeeYU/w377-h369-k/DSC_0056%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS6R7UiBCco/T006tMSMINI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaWz09OeeYU/w377-h369-k/DSC_0056%2B-%2BCopy.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Their abdomens bear appendages that have been modified into spinnerets that extrude silk from up to six types of silk glands within their abdomen. Spider webs vary widely in size, shape and the amount of sticky thread used. It now appears that the spiral orb web may be one of the earliest forms, and spiders that produce tangled cobwebs are more abundant and diverse than orb-web spiders. Spider-like arachnids with silk-producing spigots appear in the Devonian period about 386 million years ago, but these animals apparently lacked spinnerets. True spiders have been found in Carboniferous rocks from 318 to 299 million years ago, and are very similar to the most primitive surviving order, the Mesothelae. The main groups of modern spiders, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae, first appear in the Triassic period, before 200 million years ago. A herbivorous species, Bagheera kiplingi, was described in 2008, but all other known species are predators, mostly preying on insects and on other spiders, although a few large species also take birds and lizards. Spiders use a wide range of strategies to capture prey: trapping it in sticky webs, lassoing it with sticky bolas, mimicking the prey to avoid detection, or running it down. Most detect prey mainly by sensing vibrations, but the active hunters have acute vision, and hunters of the genus Portia show signs of intelligence in their choice of tactics and ability to develop new ones. Spiders' guts are too narrow to take solids, and they liquidize their food by flooding it with digestive enzymes and grinding it with the bases of their pedipalps, as they do not have true jaws. Male spiders identify themselves by a variety of complex courtship rituals to avoid being eaten by the females. Males of most species survive a few matings, limited mainly by their short life spans. Females weave silk egg-cases, each of which may contain hundreds of eggs. Females of many species care for their young, for example by carrying them around or by sharing food with them. A minority of species are social, building communal webs that may house anywhere from a few to 50,000 individuals. Social behavior ranges from precarious toleration, as in the aggressive widow spiders, to co-operative hunting and food-sharing. Although most spiders live for at most two years, tarantulas and other mygalomorph spiders can live up to 25 years in captivity. While the venom of a few species is dangerous to humans, scientists are now researching the use of spider venom in medicine and as non-polluting pesticides. Spider silk provides a combination of lightness, strength and elasticity that is superior to that of synthetic materials, and spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants to see if these can be used as silk factories. As a result of their wide range of behaviors, spiders have become common symbols in art and mythology symbolizing various combinations of patience, cruelty and creative powers.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-12302407780184453242012-03-09T19:52:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:57.983+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Piranha</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes. They are known for their sharp teeth and a voracious appetite for meat. Piranhas belong to the subfamily Serrasalminae, which also includes closely related omnivorous fish such as pacus. Traditionally, only the four genera Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, Pygopristis and Serrasalmus are considered to be true piranhas, due to their specialized teeth. However, a recent analysis showed that, if the piranha group is to be monophyletic, it should be restricted to Serrasalmus, Pygocentrus and part of Pristobrycon, or expanded to include these taxa plus Pygopristis, Catoprion, and Pristobrycon striolatus. Pygopristis was found to be more closely related to Catoprion than the other three piranha genera. The total number of piranha species is unknown and contested, and new species continue to be described. Estimates range from fewer than 30 to more than 60. Piranhas are found in the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guyanas, in the Paraguay-Paraná, and the São Francisco River systems. Some species of piranha have broad geographic ranges, occurring in more than one of the major basins mentioned above, whereas others appear to have more limited distributions.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OqvK7k6qhuQ/T1YwSEyJKoI/AAAAAAAAA7k/F564E7X6zsU/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B9.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-OqvK7k6qhuQ/T1YwSEyJKoI/AAAAAAAAA7k/F564E7X6zsU/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B9.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gFcRgEYG1m0/T1YwO5MOWeI/AAAAAAAAA7k/RtVDjQZiVvQ/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B4.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-gFcRgEYG1m0/T1YwO5MOWeI/AAAAAAAAA7k/RtVDjQZiVvQ/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B4.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pkIT7iNr7MY/T1Yybqdeu8I/AAAAAAAABDY/sWzwcpBW9d4/w500-h375-k/PTDC0032.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pkIT7iNr7MY/T1Yybqdeu8I/AAAAAAAABDY/sWzwcpBW9d4/w500-h375-k/PTDC0032.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mh1UJPcFpXQ/T1Yyk2QbtMI/AAAAAAAABDY/oDJIxoKvYeM/w500-h375-k/PTDC0040.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Mh1UJPcFpXQ/T1Yyk2QbtMI/AAAAAAAABDY/oDJIxoKvYeM/w500-h375-k/PTDC0040.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Aquarium piranhas have been introduced into parts of the United States, with specimens occasionally <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-SHQSPf1aVCI/T1YwPf5uw0I/AAAAAAAAA7k/IuH88I6v-co/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B5.JPG "/>found in the Potomac River, Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and even as far north as Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, although they typically do not survive cold winters. Piranhas have also been discovered in the Kaptai Lake in southeast Bangladesh. Research is being carried out to establish how piranhas have moved to such distant corners of the world from their original habitat. Some rogue exotic fish traders are thought to have released them in the lake to avoid being caught by antipoaching forces. Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to 10.25 inches), although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 inches) in length. Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus and Pygopristis are most easily recognized by their unique dentition. All piranhas have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws; the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and used for rapid puncture and shearing. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed and blade-like (flat in profile). There is minor variation in the number of cusps; in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. The exception is Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. In the scale-eating Catoprion, the shape of their teeth is markedly different and the premaxillary teeth are in two rows, as in most other serrasalmines. Piranhas are important ecological components of their native environments. Although largely restricted to lowland drainages, these fish are widespread and inhabit diverse habitats within both lotic and lentic environments. Some piranha species are abundant locally, and multiple species often occur together. As both predators and scavengers, piranhas influence the local distribution and composition of fish assemblages. Certain piranha species consume large quantities of seeds, but unlike the related Colossoma and Piaractus, herbivorous piranhas thoroughly masticate <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B3upaOhKJbY/T1YwQ8zQcjI/AAAAAAAAA7k/-BvGbtCUoG4/w500-h375-k/Sam%2B6.JPG "/>and entirely devour all seeds eaten and consequently do not function as dispersers. Piranha have a reputation as ferocious predators that hunt their prey in schools. Recent research, however, which "started off with the premise that they school as a means of cooperative hunting", discovered that they are timid fish that schooled for protection from their own predators, such as cormorants, caimans, and dolphins. Piranhas are "basically like regular fish with large teeth". Research on the species Serrasalmus aff. brandtii and Pygocentrus nattereri in Viana Lake, which is formed during the wet season when the Rio Pindare (a tributary of the Rio Mearim) floods, has shown that these species eat vegetable matter at some stages in their life; they are not strictly carnivorous fish. Piranha teeth are often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous population. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is caught on a hook or line, it may be attacked by other (free) piranhas. Piranhas are commonly consumed by subsistence fishermen, and often sold for food in local markets. In recent decades, dried specimens have been marketed as tourist souvenirs. Piranhas occasionally bite and <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-P7HJXHs8KBI/T1YyYM6AH4I/AAAAAAAABDY/ex5NUHoFCe0/w500-h375-k/PTDC0027.JPG "/>sometimes injure bathers and swimmers. A piranha bite is considered more an act of carelessness than that of misfortune, but piranhas are a considerable nuisance to commercial and sport fishers because they steal bait, mutilate catch, damage nets and other gear, and may bite when handled. Several piranha species appear in the aquarium trade. Piranhas can be bought as pets in some areas, but they are illegal in many parts of the United States. The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as babies, often no larger than a thumbnail. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the weaker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups. It is not rare to find individuals with one eye missing due to a previous attack. Piranhas are likely to become cannibalistic on others in their group if underfed. There are various myths about piranhas such as how they can dilacerate a human body or cattle in seconds. These myths refer specifically to Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. A recurrent myth is that they can be attracted by blood and are exclusive carnivores. A Brazilian myth called "piranha cattle" states that they sweep the rivers at high speed and attack the first of the cattle entering the water allowing the rest of the group to traverse the river. These myths were dismissed through research by Helder Queiroz and Anne Magurran and published on Biology Letters. Nevertheless, a study in Suriname found that piranhas may occasionally attack humans, particularly when water levels are low. Attacks on humans are usually reported around docks where fish are frequently gutted, and entrails <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-X8cEPeYVh_Q/T1Yyd82-DDI/AAAAAAAABDY/oH22sHsrf2s/w500-h375-k/PTDC0038.JPG "/>are commonly thrown into the water. Hollywood would later emblazon the above gory image for posterity and profit. An example of this perception of piranhas in media appears in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice, where a piece of meat is shown being fed to pet piranhas owned by the film's main antagonist, Blofeld, then only a bone is raised from the water. Later on, a woman is thrown to the piranha pool, although all that is seen is water bubbling vigorously. Piranha (1978) and Piranha II: The Spawning (1981) perpetuated the piranha's sinister image by showing murderous piranha fish biting and eating humans. A 2010 remake titled Piranha 3D continued the trend and a sequel, Piranha 3DD, is in the making.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-19064620336820485342012-03-09T19:36:00.003+00:002012-03-09T22:24:53.805+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Inia geoffrensis, commonly known as the Amazon river dolphin, is a freshwater river dolphin endemic to the Orinoco, Amazon and Araguaia/Tocantins River systems of Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. It is listed as Endangered by the IUCN due to pollution, overfishing, excessive boat traffic and habitat loss. Other common names of the species include boto, lo lo annaaaa, boto cor-de-rosa, bouto, and pink dolphin. The Amazon river dolphin is one of a handful of oceanic and river dolphins included in a paraphyletic clade known as the botos. Although not a large cetacean in general terms, this dolphin is the largest cetacean to spend most of its life in freshwater; it can grow larger than a human. Body length can range from 1.53 to 2.4 m (5.0 to 7.9 ft), depending on subspecies. Females are typically larger than males. The largest female Amazon river dolphins can range up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in length and weigh 98.5 kg (217 lb). The largest male dolphins can range up to 2.0 m (6.6 ft) in length and weigh 94 kg (210 lb). They have unfused neck vertebrae, enabling them to turn their heads 180 degrees. They possess long beaks which contain 24 to 34 conical and molar-type teeth on each side of the jaws.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9lxrn4CFe5I/T008IBh0uFI/AAAAAAAAAgs/adgyyj1diUE/w347-h344-k/IMG_8519%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-9lxrn4CFe5I/T008IBh0uFI/AAAAAAAAAgs/adgyyj1diUE/w347-h344-k/IMG_8519%2B-%2BCopy.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G1WlQNIN9OU/T1YyoJOsvVI/AAAAAAAABDY/3_whVpIBpV4/w500-h375-k/PTDC0045.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G1WlQNIN9OU/T1YyoJOsvVI/AAAAAAAABDY/3_whVpIBpV4/w500-h375-k/PTDC0045.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j6mX9GH5LuY/T008JI_LfhI/AAAAAAAAAg8/XdQbNbwz_so/w296-h344-k/IMG_8524%2B-%2BCopy.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-j6mX9GH5LuY/T008JI_LfhI/AAAAAAAAAg8/XdQbNbwz_so/w296-h344-k/IMG_8524%2B-%2BCopy.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3OIY6geyFLk/T1YyxX_RqaI/AAAAAAAABDY/3KvB4wyZHxg/w500-h375-k/PTDC0053.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-3OIY6geyFLk/T1YyxX_RqaI/AAAAAAAABDY/3KvB4wyZHxg/w500-h375-k/PTDC0053.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>The species was described by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville in 1817. Rice's 1998 classification lists a single species, Inia geoffrensis in the genus Inia, with three recognized subspecies. Some older classifications, as well as some recent publications, listed the boliviensis population as a separate species; however, a great majority of the scientific community, including the IUCN, consider the <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5dncz1y_m6E/T1Yym9Bn0LI/AAAAAAAABDY/Oj9NVH-Hvhs/w500-h375-k/PTDC0044.JPG "/>boliviensis population to be a subspecies of Inia geoffrensis. The species separated from its oceanic relatives during the Miocene epoch. Sea levels were higher at that time, says biologist Healy Hamilton of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and large parts of South America, including the Amazon Basin, may have been flooded by shallow, more or less brackish water. When this inland sea retreated, Hamilton hypothesizes, the Amazon dolphins remained in the river basin, evolving into striking creatures that bear little resemblance to our beloved Flipper. The Amazon river dolphin is found throughout the Amazon and Orinoco. It is particularly abundant in lowland rivers with extensive floodplains. During the annual rainy season, these rivers flood large areas of forests and marshes along their banks. The Amazon river dolphin specializes in hunting in these habitats, taking advantage of its unusually flexible neck and spinal cord to maneuver among the underwater tree trunks, and using its long snout to extract prey fish from hiding places in hollow logs and thickets of submerged vegetation. When the water levels drop, the dolphins move either into the main river channels or into large lakes in the forest, and take advantage of the concentrated prey in these reduced water bodies. They feed on crustaceans, crabs, small turtles, catfish, piranha, shrimp, and other fish. The male reaches sexual maturity at about 7 feet (2 m) and the female at about 5.5 feet (1.7 m). Most calves are born between July and September after a gestation period of 9 to 12 months; they are about 32 inches long at birth (80 cm) and weigh about 15 pounds. The young follow their parents closely for a few months, and often two adults are seen swimming with two or more small juveniles. In traditional Amazon River folklore, at night, an Amazon river dolphin becomes a handsome young man who seduces girls, impregnates them, and then returns to the river in the morning to become a dolphin again. This dolphin shapeshifter is called an encantado. It has been suggested that the myth arose partly because dolphin genitalia bear a resemblance to those of humans. Others believe the myth served (and still serves) as a way of hiding the incestuous relations which are quite common in some small, isolated communities along the river. In the area, there are tales that it is bad luck to kill a dolphin. Legend also states that if a person makes eye contact with an Amazon river dolphin, he or she will have lifelong nightmares. Local legends also state that the dolphin is the guardian of the Amazonian manatee, and that, should one wish to find a manatee, one must first make peace with the dolphin. Associated with these legends is the use of various fetishes, such as dried eyeballs and genitalia. These may or may not be accompanied by the intervention of a priest. A recent study has shown, despite the claim of the seller and the belief of the buyers, none of these fetishes are derived from the boto. They are derived from Sotalia guianensis, are most likely harvested along the coast and the Amazon River delta, and then are traded up the Amazon River. In inland cities far from the coast, many, if not most, of the fetishes are derived from domestic animals such as sheep and pigs. The 1987 Brazilian film Ele, o Boto is a supernatural romance featuring an Amazon river dolphin which has a son by a young woman.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-60823671248984852122012-03-09T17:56:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:49.806+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Survival night in the Amazonas Jungle</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>While being in the Amazonas Jungle, I went to sleep for a survival night into the jungle. We learned how to make our own settle with trees and palms, how to fish our own food and how to start a fire to cook the fish. Survival skills are techniques a person may use in a dangerous situation (e.g. natural disasters) to save themselves or others. These techniques are meant to provide basic necessities for human life: water, food, shelter, habitat, the ability to think straight, to signal for help, to navigate safely, to avoid unpleasant interactions with animals and plants, and cure any present injuries. Survival skills are often basic ideas and abilities that ancient humans have used for thousands of years. Hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting and many other outdoor activities all require basic wilderness survival skills to handle an emergency situation. Bushcraft and primitive living are most often self implemented, but require many of the same skills. Many skills are environment specific and require training in a particular environment. Wilderness survival is commonly broken down into three areas: Modern Wilderness Survival, bushcraft, and primitive living. The latter two are often self imposed, thus not always "survival" in the strict sense of the word, but many of the same techniques are employed. Modern Wilderness Survival teaches the skills needed to survive Short-Term (1 to 4 Days). Bushcraft is a combination of Modern Wilderness Survival and Primitive Living, lasting 4-10 days. Primitive Living teaches the skills needed to survive over the Long-Term (40 days plus). Many primitive technology skills require much more practice and may be more environmentally specific. Several organizations offer wilderness survival training.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-muxFJj99dRs/T008Am1XI5I/AAAAAAAAAds/5Z-EtmfgrF8/w337-h252-n-k/IMG_8456.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-muxFJj99dRs/T008Am1XI5I/AAAAAAAAAds/5Z-EtmfgrF8/w337-h252-n-k/IMG_8456.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SWKkl7pHmI0/T008BDSdkKI/AAAAAAAAAeA/DpKcZWF28Po/w476-h357-k/IMG_8461.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SWKkl7pHmI0/T008BDSdkKI/AAAAAAAAAeA/DpKcZWF28Po/w476-h357-k/IMG_8461.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_blSPp0bYAM/T007-Lw7aOI/AAAAAAAAAcw/EuE68CPhGEM/w495-h372-k/IMG_8447.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-_blSPp0bYAM/T007-Lw7aOI/AAAAAAAAAcw/EuE68CPhGEM/w495-h372-k/IMG_8447.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Sxzkc5bFmv4/T1Y2CJyyoqI/AAAAAAAABEw/8UxeZSgBXtM/w500-h281-k/DSC02246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Sxzkc5bFmv4/T1Y2CJyyoqI/AAAAAAAABEw/8UxeZSgBXtM/w500-h281-k/DSC02246.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Course ranges from one day to field courses lasting several months. Different training is necessary to <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-351B1eDoSDM/T1Y2BUguWFI/AAAAAAAABEw/zQEHl3sLwA0/w500-h281-k/DSC02230.JPG "/>survive in different climates. Although one technique may work in a dry sub-Saharan area, the same methods may actually be a detriment to health in an arctic climate. A shelter can range from a "natural shelter"; such as a cave or a fallen-down tree, to an intermediate form of man-made shelter such as a debris hut, a tree pit shelter, or a snow cave, to completely man-made structures such as a tarp, tent, or longhouse. Making fire is recognized in the sources as to significantly increase the ability to survive physically and mentally. Lighting a fire without a lighter or matches, such as by using natural flint and steel with tinder, is a frequent subject of both books on survival and in survival courses. There is an emphasis placed on practicing fire-making skills before venturing into the wilderness. Producing fire under adverse conditions has been made much easier by the introduction of tools such as the solar spark lighter and the fire piston. Fire is presented as a tool meeting many survival needs. The heat provided by a fire warms the body, dries wet clothes, disinfects water, and cooks food. Not to be overlooked is the psychological boost and the sense of safety and protection it gives. In the wild, fire can provide a sensation of home, a focal point, in addition to being an essential energy source. Fire may deter wild animals from interfering with the survivor, however wild animals may be attracted to the light and heat of a fire. The light and smoke emitted by a fire can also be used to work at night and can signal rescue units. A human being can survive an average of three to five days without the intake of water. In colder or warmer temperatures, the need for water is greater. The issues presented by the need for water dictate that unnecessary water loss by perspiration be avoided in survival situations. The need for water increases with exercise. A typical person will lose minimally two to maximally four liters of water per day <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 240px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xeaVMRbB66A/T1Y1_rGalxI/AAAAAAAABEw/060lp6upJ_8/w144-h255-n-k/DSC02201.JPG "/>under ordinary conditions, and more in hot, dry, or cold weather. Four to six liters of water or other liquids are generally required each day in the wilderness to avoid dehydration and to keep the body functioning properly. The U.S. Army survival manual recommends that you drink water whenever thirsty. Other groups recommend rationing water through "water discipline". A lack of water causes dehydration, which may result in lethargy, headaches, dizziness, confusion, and eventually death. Even mild dehydration reduces endurance and impairs concentration, which is dangerous in a survival situation where clear thinking is essential. Dark yellow or brown urine is a diagnostic indicator of dehydration. To avoid dehydration, a high priority is typically assigned to locating a supply of drinking water and making provision to render that water as safe as possible. Recent thinking is that boiling or commercial filters are significantly safer than use of chemicals, with the exception of chlorine dioxide. Culinary root tubers, fruit, edible mushrooms, edible nuts, edible beans, edible cereals or edible leaves, edible moss, edible <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-aNF-TwuLnnw/T008Aaj3QFI/AAAAAAAAAdo/Ybz7pDQCZOY/w500-h375-k/IMG_8455.JPG "/>cacti and algae can be searched and if needed, prepared (mostly by boiling). With the exception of leaves, these foods are relatively high in calories, providing some energy to the body. Plants are some of the easiest food sources to find in the jungle, forest or desert because they're stationary and can thus be had without exerting much effort. Skills, and equipment (such as bows, snares and nets) necessary to gather animal food in the wild include animal trapping, hunting, fishing. Focusing on survival until rescued by presumed searchers, The Boy Scouts of America especially discourages foraging for wild foods on the grounds that the knowledge and skills needed are unlikely to be possessed by those finding themselves in a wilderness survival situation, making the risks (including use of energy) outweigh the benefits. The mind and its processes are critical to survival. The will to live in a life and death situation often separates those that live and those that do not. Stories of heroic feats of survival by regular people with little or no training but a strong will to live are not uncommon. Among them is Juliane Koepcke. Situations can be stressful to the level that even trained experts may be mentally affected. To the extent that stress results from testing human limits, the benefits of learning to function under stress and determining those limits may outweigh the downside of stress. There are certain strategies and mental tools that can help people cope better in a survival situation, including focusing on manageable tasks, having a Plan B available and recognizing denial.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-82188450739735235862012-03-09T17:37:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:41.674+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Stick insect</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Phasmatodea (sometimes called Phasmida) are an order of insects, whose members are variously known as stick insects (in Europe and Australasia), walking sticks or stick-bugs (in the United States and Canada), phasmids, ghost insects and leaf insects (generally the family Phylliidae). The ordinal name is derived from the Ancient Greek φάσμα phasma, meaning an apparition or phantom, and refers to the resemblance of many species to sticks or leaves. Their natural camouflage can make them extremely difficult to spot. Phasmatodea can be found all over the world in warmer zones, especially the tropics and subtropics. The greatest diversity is found in Southeast Asia and South America, followed by Australia. Phasmids also have a considerable presence in the continental United States, mainly in the Southeast. Phasmids can be relatively large, ranging from 1 inch to over a foot in length. Females of the genus Phobaeticus are the world's longest insects, measuring up to 56.7 centimetres (22.3 in) in total length in the case of Phobaeticus chani, including the outstretched legs. Females of the species Heteropteryx dilatata are the heaviest known phasmids, possibly weighing in excess of 65 grams.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--34e-x0JW6U/T0074GoZ7rI/AAAAAAAAAa4/gpeX8bBo6RQ/w308-h410-k/IMG_8416.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--34e-x0JW6U/T0074GoZ7rI/AAAAAAAAAa4/gpeX8bBo6RQ/w308-h410-k/IMG_8416.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-alpTRnxWAqY/T0073kkB-kI/AAAAAAAAAao/NTMtjigYcKs/w500-h375-k/IMG_8412.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-alpTRnxWAqY/T0073kkB-kI/AAAAAAAAAao/NTMtjigYcKs/w500-h375-k/IMG_8412.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E628iQPy9-0/T0073VnG1LI/AAAAAAAAAag/KYX-gt2H7y8/w308-h410-k/IMG_8413.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E628iQPy9-0/T0073VnG1LI/AAAAAAAAAag/KYX-gt2H7y8/w308-h410-k/IMG_8413.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uHSR7hOYD2s/T0074u06AqI/AAAAAAAAAa0/Pvx05BOr85U/w308-h410-k/IMG_8414.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-uHSR7hOYD2s/T0074u06AqI/AAAAAAAAAa0/Pvx05BOr85U/w308-h410-k/IMG_8414.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Closeup of the head of a female Extatosoma tiaratumSome have cylindrical stick-like bodies, while others have a flattened, leaflike shape. The thorax is long in the winged species, since it houses the flight muscles, but is typically much shorter in the wingless forms. Where present, the first pair of wings are narrow and cornified, while the hind wings are broad, with straight longitudinal veins and multiple cross-veins. The body is often further modified to resemble vegetation, with ridges resembling leaf veins, bark-like tubercles, and other forms of camouflage. A few species, such as Carausius morosus, are even able to change their pigmentation to match their surroundings. Many species are wingless, or have reduced wings. The mouthparts project out from the head. Chewing mandibles are uniform across species. The legs are typically long and slender, and some species are capable of limb autotomy. They have long, slender antennae that are as long or longer than the length of the body in some species. All phasmids possess compound eyes, but ocelli are only found in some winged males. Phasmids have an impressive visual system that allow them to perceive significant detail even in dim conditions, which suits their typically nocturnal lifestyle. They are born equipped with tiny compound eyes with a limited number of facets. As the insect grows through successive molts, the number of facets is increased along with the number of photoreceptor cells in the eye. The sensitivity of the adult eye is at least tenfold that of the first instar nymphs. As the eye grows more complex, the mechanisms to adapt to dark/light changes are also enhanced: eyes in dark conditions evidence less screening pigments, which would block light, than during the daytime, and changes in the width of the retinal layer to adapt to changes in available light are significantly more pronounced in adults. However, the larger size of the adult insect’s eyes makes them more prone to radiation damage. This explains why fully grown individuals are mostly nocturnal. Lessened sensitivity to light in the newly emerged insects helps them to escape from the leaf litter wherein they are hatched and move upward into the illuminated foliage. Young stick insects are diurnal feeders and will move around freely, expanding their foraging range. Phasmatodea species exhibit mechanisms for defense from predators that both prevent an attack from happening in the first place (primary defense) and are deployed after an attack has been initiated (secondary defense). The defense mechanism most readily identifiable with Phasmatodea is camouflage. Most phasmids are known for effectively replicating the forms of sticks and leaves, and the bodies of some species (such as O. macklotti and Palophus centaurus) are covered in mossy or lichenous outgrowths that supplement their disguise. Some species have the ability to change color as their surroundings shift (B. scabrinota, T. californica). In a further behavioral adaptation to supplement crypsis, a number of species have been noted to perform a rocking motion where the body is swayed from side to side that is thought to reflect the movement of leaves or twigs swaying in the breeze. Another method by which stick insects avoid predation and resemble twigs is by feigning death (catalepsy), where the insect enters a motionless state that can be maintained for a long period. The nocturnal feeding habits of adults also aids Phasmatodea in remaining concealed from predators. In a seemingly opposite method of defense, many species of Phasmatodea will seek to startle the encroaching predator by flashing bright colors that are normally hidden and making a loud noise. When disturbed on a branch or foliage, some species, while dropping to the undergrowth to escape, will open their wings momentarily during free fall to display bright colors that disappear when the insect lands. Others will maintain their display for up to 20 minutes, hoping to frighten the predator and convey the appearance of a larger size. Some accompany the visual display with noise made by rubbing together parts of the wings or antennae. Some species, such as the young nymphs of E. tiaratum, have been observed to curl the abdomen upwards over the body and head to resemble ants or scorpions in an act of mimicry, another defense mechanism by which the insects avoid becoming prey. When threatened, some phasmids that are equipped with femoral spines on the metathoracic legs (O. martini, Eurycantha calcarata, Eurycantha horrida, D. veiliei, D. covilleae) respond by curling the abdomen upward and repeatedly swinging the legs together, grasping at the threat. If the menace is caught, the spines can draw blood and inflict considerable pain. A number of species are equipped with a pair of glands at the anterior edge of the prothorax that enable the insect to release defensive secretions, including chemical compounds of varying effect: from the production of distinct odors to the causing of a stinging, burning sensation in the eyes and mouth of a predator. The spray often contains pungent-smelling volatile metabolites, previously thought to be concentrated in the insect from its plant food sources. However, based on recent research it seems more likely that they manufacture their own chemical defense substances. Additionally, the chemistry of the defense spray from at least one species, Anisomorpha buprestoides, has been shown to vary based on their life stage and/or population. This chemical spray variation also corresponds with regionally specific color form populations in Florida who also have distinct behaviors. The spray from one species, Megacrania nigrosulfurea, is even used as a treatment for skin infections by a tribe in Papua New Guinea because of its antibacterial constituents. Some species employ a shorter-range defensive secretion, where individuals bleed reflexively through the joints of their legs and the seams of the exoskeleton when bothered, allowing the blood (hemolymph), which contains distasteful additives, to discourage predators. Stick insects, like their distant relation the grasshopper, can also discharge the contents of their stomach through vomiting when harassed, a fluid that is considered inedible by some predators. The life cycle of the stick insect begins when the female deposits her eggs through one of three methods of oviposition: she will either flick her egg to the ground by a movement of the ovipositor or her entire abdomen, carefully place the eggs in the axils of the host plant or bury them in small pits in the soil, or stick the eggs to a substrate, usually a stem or leaf of the food plant. A single female lay from 100 to 1,200 eggs after mating, depending on the species. Most species of phasmid are parthenogenic, meaning that females lay eggs without needing to mate with males to produce offspring. However, some parthenogenic species retain the ability to mate and are bisexual depending on the presence and abundance of males. Eggs from virgin mothers are entirely female and exact copies of their mothers. Phasmatodea eggs resemble seeds in shape and size, and have hard shells. They have a lid-like structure called an operculum at the anterior pole, from which the nymph emerges during hatching. The eggs vary in the hatching period, from 13 to more than 70 days, with the average around 20-30 days. Some species, particularly those from temperate regions, undergo diapause, where development is delayed during the winter months. Diapause is affected by photoperiod on the egg-laying adults or can be genetically determined. Diapause is broken by exposure to the cold of winter, causing the eggs to hatch during the following spring. Among species of economic importance, diapause affects the development of 2-year cycles of outbreaks. Eggs of various phasmid species (not to scale)Many species' eggs bear a fatty knoblike capitulum that caps the operculum. This structure attracts ants because of its resemblance to the elaiosome of some plant seeds that is a sought after food source for ant larvae, and usually contributes to ensuring seed dispersal by ants, a form of ant-plant mutualism called myrmecochory. The ants take the egg into their nest underground and can remove the capitulum to feed to their larvae without harming the phasmid embryo. There, the egg hatches and the young nymph, which initially resembles an ant (another instance of mimicry among phasmatodea), eventually emerges from the nest and climbs the nearest tree to safety in the foliage. The Phasmatodea life cycle is hemimetabolous, proceeding through a series of several nymphal instars. The stick insect’s wings develop externally. As is the case with hatching, if the nymph is caught in the encasing of a rejected cast skin (or shell), it will likely die because it cannot free itself. Once emerged the nymphs will eat the cast skin. Adulthood is reached for most species after several months and many molts. The lifespan of phasmatodea varies by species, but ranges from a few months to up to two years for some tropical varieties. Stick insects, like praying mantises, show rocking behavior in which the insect makes rhythmic, repetitive side-to-side movements. The common interpretation of this behavior's function is that it enhances crypsis by mimicking vegetation moving in the wind. However, the repetitive swaying movements may be most important in allowing the insects to discriminate objects from the background by relative motion. Rocking movements by these generally sedentary insects may replace flying or running as a source of relative motion to help them discern objects in the foreground. Mating behavior in Phasmatodea is impressive because of the extraordinarily long duration of pairings. A record among insects, the stick insect Necroscia sparaxes, found in India, is sometimes coupled for 79 days at a time. It is not uncommon for this species to assume the mating posture for days or weeks on end, and among some species (Diapheromera veliei Walsh and D. Covilleae), pairing has been observed to last 3-136 hours in captivity. Explanations for this behavior range from males guarding their mates against reproductive competitors to the view that the pairings are a defensive alliance. Instances of overt displays of aggression between males over mates would suggest that the extended pairing behavior may have evolved to guard females against sperm competition. Fighting between competing males has been observed in the species D. veiliei and D. covilleae. During these encounters, the approach of a challenger causes the existing mate to manipulate the female's abdomen, which he has clasped by means of the clasping organ, or vomer, down upon itself to block the site of attachment. Occasionally the consort will strike out at the competitor with the mid femora, which are equipped with an enlarged and hooked spine in both sexes that has been observed to draw the blood of the opponent when they are flexed against the body to puncture the integument. Usually a strong hold on the female's abdomen and blows to the intruder are enough to deter the unwanted competition, but occasionally the competitor has been observed to employ a sneaky tactic to inseminate the female. While the first mate is engaged in feeding and is forced to vacate the dorsal position, the intruder can clasp the female's abdomen and insert his genitalia. If he is discovered, the males will enter into combat wherein they lean backward, both clasped to the female's abdomen, and freely suspended, engage in rapid, sweeping blows with their forelegs in a manner similar to boxing. Usually when the intruder gains attachment to the female's abdomen, these conflicts resolve in the displacement of the original mate. Lengthy pairings have also been described in terms of a defensive alliance. When cleaved together, the pair is more unwieldy for predators to handle. Also, the chemical defenses (secretions, reflex bleeding, regurgitation) of the individual stick insect are enhanced when two are paired together. Female survivorship of attacks by predators is significantly enhanced by pairing, largely because the dorsal position of the male functions well as a shield. This could indicate that manipulation by females is present: if females accept ejaculate at a slow rate, for instance, the males are forced to remain in copulo for longer and the female's chances of survival are enhanced. Also, evolution could have simply favored males that remained attached to their females longer, since females are often less abundant than males and represent a valuable prize, so that for the lucky male even the sacrifice of his own life to preserve his offspring with the female may be worth it. Sexual dimorphism in the species, where females are usually significantly larger than the males, may have evolved due to the fitness advantage accrued to males that can remain attached to the female, thereby blocking competitors, without severely impeding her movement.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-61465281574298620622012-03-09T17:26:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:37.133+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Native Brazilians / Indigenous</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Indigenous peoples in Brazil comprise a large number of distinct ethnic groups who inhabited the country prior to the European invasion around 1500. Unlike Christopher Columbus, who thought he had reached the East Indies, the Portuguese, most notably Vasco da Gama, had already reached India via the Indian Ocean route when they reached Brazil. Nevertheless the word índios ("Indians") was by then established to designate the people of the New World and stuck being used today in the Portuguese language to designate these peoples, while the people of India, Asia are called indianos in order to distinguish the two people. At the time of European discovery, some of the indigenous peoples were traditionally mostly semi-nomadic tribes who subsisted on hunting, fishing, gathering, and migrant agriculture. Many of the estimated 2,000 nations and tribes which existed in the 16th century died out as a consequence of the European settlement, and many were assimilated into the Brazilian population. The Indigenous population was largely killed off by the Spanish, declining from a pre-Columbian high of millions to some 300,000 (1997), grouped into some 200 tribes. However, the number could be much higher if the urban Indigenous populations are counted in all the Brazilian cities today. A somewhat dated linguistic survey found 188 living indigenous languages with 155,000 total speakers.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wDkeCBYvOeY/T007RF9rgvI/AAAAAAAAAP8/DsHG_ZMUH1g/w500-h335-k/DSC_0286.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wDkeCBYvOeY/T007RF9rgvI/AAAAAAAAAP8/DsHG_ZMUH1g/w500-h335-k/DSC_0286.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5goJZ-SF01Q/T007XT6KQ4I/AAAAAAAAARo/QukXOvwdl2Y/w500-h335-k/DSC_0304.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5goJZ-SF01Q/T007XT6KQ4I/AAAAAAAAARo/QukXOvwdl2Y/w500-h335-k/DSC_0304.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2yQj_4sGARM/T007Sa8KLdI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ISUAVacOg_Q/w500-h335-k/DSC_0289.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2yQj_4sGARM/T007Sa8KLdI/AAAAAAAAAQU/ISUAVacOg_Q/w500-h335-k/DSC_0289.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R3iVDmNX_N4/T007NiVySaI/AAAAAAAAAO4/nUnrmhDKarU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0270.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-R3iVDmNX_N4/T007NiVySaI/AAAAAAAAAO4/nUnrmhDKarU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0270.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>On 18 January 2007, FUNAI reported that it had confirmed the presence of 67 different uncontacted tribes in Brazil, up from 40 in 2005. With this addition Brazil has now overpassed New Guinea as the <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QhytAiM08Hc/T008GyJiHuI/AAAAAAAAAgU/Z5uWSw1uxfE/w347-h250-n-k/IMG_8511.JPG "/>country having the largest number of uncontacted peoples. Brazilian Indigenous people have made substantial and pervasive contributions to the world's medicine with knowledge used today by pharmaceutical corporations, material and cultural development—such as the domestication of cassava and other natural foods. In the last IBGE census (2006), 519,000 Brazilians classified themselves as indigenous, even though millions of Brazilians have Amerindian ancestry. Questions about the original settlement the Americas has produced a number of hypotheses and models. The origins of these indigenous peoples are still a matter of dispute among archaeologists. The traditional view, which traces them to Siberian migration to America at the end of the last ice age, has been increasingly challenged by South American archaeologists. Theories to explain evidence of pre-Columbian trans-oceanic contact with the Americas by Asian, African, or Oceanic peoples is generally the topic of significant debate. Demonstrations such as Kon-Tiki and the Kantuta Expeditions demonstrated the ability to travel westward with the Humboldt Current from South America to Polynesia. Anthropological and genetic evidence indicates that most Native American peoples descended from migrant peoples from North Asia (Siberia) who entered America across the Bering Strait or along the western coast of North America in at least three separate waves. In Brazil, particularly, most native tribes who were living in the land by 1500 are thought to be descended from the first Siberian wave of migrants, who are believed to have crossed the Bering Land Bridge at the end of the last Ice Age, between 13,000 and 17,000 years before the present. A migrant wave would have taken some time after initial entry to reach present-day Brazil, probably entering the Amazon River basin from the Northwest. (The second and third migratory waves from Siberia, which are thought to have generated the Athabaskan and Eskimo peoples, apparently did not reach farther than the southern United States and Canada, respectively). An analysis of Amerindian Y-chromosome DNA indicates specific clustering of much of the South American population. The micro- <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Wt59TAFuMZI/T007Sv-vA8I/AAAAAAAAAQY/3lPLjv0CnKw/w500-h335-k/DSC_0290.JPG "/>satellite diversity and distributions of the Y lineage specific to South America indicates that certain Amerindian populations have been isolated since the initial colonization of the region. The traditional view above has recently been challenged by findings of human remains in South America, which are claimed to be too old to fit this scenario—perhaps even 20,000 years old. Some recent finds (notably the Luzia skeleton in Lagoa Santa, Minas Gerais, Brazil analyzed by University of São Paulo, Professor Walter Neves) are claimed to be morphologically distinct from the Asian phenotype and are more similar to Australian Aborigines. These Americans would have been later displaced or absorbed by the Siberian immigrants. The distinctive natives of Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of the American continent, may have been the last remains of those Aboriginal populations. These early immigrants would have either crossed the ocean on rafts or boats, or traveled North along the Asian coast and entered America through the Bering Strait area, well before the Siberian waves. This theory is still resisted by many scientists chiefly because of the apparent difficulty of the trip. Some proposed theories involve a southward migration from or through Australia and Tasmania, hopping Subantarctic islands and then proceeding along the coast of Antarctica and/or southern ice sheets to the tip of South America at the time of the last glacial maximum. Brazilian natives, unlike those in Mesoamerica and the western Andes, did not keep written records or erect stone monuments, and the humid climate and acidic soil have destroyed almost all traces of their material culture, including wood and bones. Therefore, what is known about the region's history before 1500 has been inferred and reconstructed from small-scale archaeological evidence, such as pottery and stone arrowheads. The most conspicuous remains of these societies are very large mounds of discarded shellfish (sambaquis) found in some coastal sites which were continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years; and the substantial "black earth" (terra preta) deposits in several places along the Amazon, which are believed to be ancient garbage dumps (middens). Recent excavations of such deposits in the middle and upper course of the Amazon have uncovered remains of some very large settlements, containing tens of thousands of homes, indicating a complex social and economical structure. On the eve of the Portuguese arrival in 1500, Brazil's coastal areas had two major mega-groups - the Tupi (speakers of Tupi–Guarani languages), who inhabited practically the entire Brazilian coast, and the Tapuia (a catch-all term for non-Tupis, usually Jê language peoples), who resided in the interior. The Portuguese arrived in the final days of a long struggle between the Tupis and Tapuias, which had resulted in the defeat and expulsion of the Tapuias from the coastal areas. Although the Tupi were broken down into sub-tribes, they were culturally and linguistically homogeneous. The fact that the Portuguese encountered <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-y-yfw1Cx7cM/T007VK-6i2I/AAAAAAAAARA/WHWXAMguj_w/w500-h335-k/DSC_0297.JPG "/>practically the same people and language all along the Brazilian coast made interaction rather easy. The names by which the different Tupi tribes were called and recorded by Portuguese and French authors of the 16th C. are poorly understood. Most do not seem to be proper names, but descriptions of relationship, usually familial - e.g. tupi means "first father", tupinambá means "relatives of the ancestors", tupiniquim means "side-neighbors", tamoio means "grandfather", temiminó means "grandson", "tabajara" means "in-laws" and so on.[7] Some etymologists believe these names reflect the ordering of the migration waves of Tupi peoples to the coast, e.g. first Tupi wave to reach the coast being the "grandfathers" (Tamoio), soon joined by the "relatives of the ancients" (Tupinamba), by which it could mean relatives of the Tamoio, or a Tamoio term to refer to relatives of the old Tupi back in the Amazon basin. The "grandsons" (Temiminó) might be a splinter. The "side-neighbors" (Tupiniquim) meant perhaps recent arrivals, still trying to jostle their way in. When the Portuguese explorers first arrived in Brazil in April 1500, they found, to their astonishment, a wide coastline rich in resources, teeming with hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people living in a "paradise" of natural riches. Pêro Vaz de Caminha, the official scribe of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the commander of the discovery fleet which landed in the present state of Bahia, wrote a letter to the King of Portugal describing in glowing terms the beauty of the land. At the time of European arrival, the territory of current day Brazil had as many as 2,000 nations and tribes. The indigenous peoples were traditionally mostly semi-nomadic tribes who subsisted on hunting, fishing, gathering, and migrant agriculture. For hundreds of years, the indigenous people of Brazil lived a semi-nomadic life, managing the forests to meet their needs. When the Portuguese arrived in 1500, the Indians were living mainly on the coast and along the banks of major rivers. Initially, the Europeans saw the natives as noble savages, and miscegenation of the population began right away. Portugues claims of tribal warfare, cannibalism, and the pursuit of Amazonian brazilwood for its treasured red dye <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tOx_fcp6Ock/T007Px4CrhI/AAAAAAAAAPo/inIpxRgtpYY/w352-h235-n-k/DSC_0278.JPG "/>convinced the Portuguese that they should "civilize" the Indians (originally, Colonists called Brazil Terra de Santa Cruz, until later it acquired its name (see List of meanings of countries' names) from brazilwood). But the Portuguese, like the Spanish in their North America territories, had brought diseases with them against which many Indians were helpless due to lack of immunity. Measles, smallpox, tuberculosis, and influenza killed tens of thousands. The diseases spread quickly along the indigenous trade routes, and whole tribes were likely annihilated without ever coming in direct contact with Europeans. The mutual feeling of wonderment and good relationship was to end in the succeeding years. The Portuguese colonists, all males, started to have children with female Indians, creating a new generation of mixed-race people who spoke Indian languages (a Tupi language called Nheengatu). The children of these Portuguese men and Indian women formed the majority of the population. Groups of fierce pathfinders organized expeditions called "bandeiras" (flags) into the backlands to claim it for the Portuguese crown and to look for gold and precious stones. Brazilian Indians during a ritual, Debret.Intending to profit from sugar trade, the Portuguese decided to plant sugar cane in Brazil, and use indigenous slaves as the workforce, as the Spanish colonies were successfully doing. But the indigenous people were hard to capture and soon infected by diseases brought by the Europeans against which they had no natural immunity, began dying in great numbers. This, coupled with the prospects of increased profits from the African slave trade (at the time almost monopolized by Portugal and supplying the labour needs of both Spanish and Portuguese settlers in the New World), encouraged Portuguese settlers and traders to start importing slaves from Africa. Although in 1570 King Sebastian I ordered that the Brazilian Indians should not be used for slavery and ordered the release of those held in captivity it was only in 1755 that the slavery of Indians was finally abolished. The Jesuit priests, who had come with the first Governor General to provide for religious assistance to the colonists, but mainly to convert the "pagan" peoples to Catholicism, took the side of the Indians and extracted a Papal bull stating that they were human and should be protected. Jesuit priests such as fathers José de Anchieta and Manuel da Nóbrega studied and recorded their language and founded mixed settlements, such as São Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga, where colonists and Indians lived side by side, speaking the same Língua Geral (common language) and freely interbred. They began also to establish more remote villages peopled only by "civilized" Indians, called Missions, or reductions (see the article on the Guarani people for more details). By the middle of <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 240px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qcFWS1fjhrU/T007PhLhMvI/AAAAAAAAAPg/o3divF2dTUU/w190-h235-n-k/DSC_0281.JPG "/>the 16th century, Catholic Jesuit priests, at the behest of Portugal's monarchy, had established missions throughout the country's colonies. They became protectors of the Indians and worked to both Europeanize them and convert them to Catholicism. The Jesuits provided a period of relative stability for the Indians. In the mid-1770s, when the power of the Catholic Church began to wane in Europe, the Indians' fragile co-existence with the colonists was again threatened. Because of a complex diplomatic web between Portugal, Spain and the Vatican, the Jesuits were expelled from Brazil and the missions confiscated and sold. By 1800, the population of Brazil had reached approximately 3.25 million, of which only 250,000 were indigenous. And for the next four decades, the Indians were largely left alone. A number of wars between several tribes, such as the Tamoio Confederation, and the Portuguese ensued, sometimes with the Indians siding with enemies of Portugal, such as the French, in the famous episode of France Antarctique in Rio de Janeiro, sometimes allying themselves to Portugal in their fight against other tribes. At approximately the same period, a German soldier, Hans Staden, was captured by the Tupinambá and released after a while. He described it in a famous book. There are various documented accounts of smallpox being knowingly used as a biological weapon by New Brazilian villagers that wanted to get rid of nearby Indian tribes (not always aggressive ones). The most "classical", according to Anthropologist, Mércio Pereira Gomes, happened in Caxias, in south Maranhão, where local farmers, wanting more land to extend their cattle farms, gave clothing owned by ill villagers (that normally would be burned to prevent further infection) to the Timbira. The clothing infected the entire tribe, and they had neither immunity nor cure. Similar things happened in other villages throughout South America. The 1840s brought trade and wealth to the Amazon. The process for vulcanizing rubber was developed, and worldwide demand for the product skyrocketed. The best rubber trees in the world grew in the Amazon, and thousands of rubber tappers began to work the plantations. When the Indians proved to be a difficult labor force, peasants from surrounding areas were brought into the region. In a dynamic that continues to this day, the indigenous population was at constant odds with the peasants, who the Indians felt had invaded their lands in search of treasure. In the 20th century, the Brazilian Government adopted a more humanitarian attitude and offered official protection to the indigenous people, including the establishment of the first indigenous reserves. Fortune brightened for the Indians around the turn of the 20th century when Cândido Rondon, a man of both Portuguese and Bororo ancestry, and an explorer and progressive officer in the Brazilian army, began working to gain the Indians' trust and establish peace. Rondon, who had been assigned to help bring telegraph communications into the Amazon, was a curious and natural explorer. In 1910, he helped found the Serviço de Proteção aos Índios - SPI (Indian Protection Service, today the FUNAI, or Fundação Nacional do Índio, National Foundation for Indians). SPI was the first federal agency charged with protecting Indians and preserving their culture. In 1914, Rondon accompanied Theodore Roosevelt on Roosevelt's famous expedition to <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4nlzoaVviP8/T007OQn5wsI/AAAAAAAAAPI/TcxF5SnfABA/w500-h335-k/DSC_0272.JPG "/>map the Amazon and discover new species. During these travels, Rondon was appalled to see how settlers and developers treated the indigenes, and he became their lifelong friend and protector. In 1952, as a final legacy, he established Xingu National Park, in the state of Mato Grosso, the first Indian reservation in Brazil. Rondon, who died in 1956, is a national hero in Brazil. The Brazilian state of Rondônia is named after him. After Rondon's pioneering work, the SPI was turned over to bureaucrats and military officers and its work declined after 1957. The new officials did not share Rondon's deep commitment to the Indians. SPI sought to address tribal issues by transforming the tribes into mainstream Brazilian society. The lure of reservation riches enticed cattle ranchers and settlers to continue their assault on Indians lands – and the SPI eased the way. Between 1900 and 1967, an estimated 98 indigenous tribes were wiped out. During the social and political upheaval in the 1960s, reports of mistreatment of Indians increasingly reached Brazil's urban centers and began to affect Brazilian thinking. In 1967, following the publication of the Figueiredo report, commissioned by the Ministry of the Interior, the military government launched an investigation into SPI. It soon came to light that the SPI was corrupt and failing to protect Indians, their lands, and, culture. The 5,000 page report catalogued atrocities including slavery, sexual abuse, torture, and mass murder. It has been charged that agency officials, in collaboration with land speculators, were systematically slaughtering the Indians by intentionally circulating disease-laced clothes.[citation needed] Criminal prosecutions followed, and the SPI was disbanded. The same year the government established Fundação Nacional do Índio (National Indian Foundation), known as FUNAI which is responsible for protecting the interests, cultures, and rights of the Brazilian indigenous populations. Some tribes have become significantly integrated into Brazilian society. The unacculturated tribes which have been contacted by FUNAI, are supposed to be protected and accommodated within Brazilian society in varying degrees. By 1987 it was recognized that unessential contact with the tribes was causing illness and social disintegration. The uncontacted tribes are now supposed to be protected from intrusion and interference in their life style and territory. However, the exploitation of rubber and other Amazonic natural resources has led to a new cycle of invasion, expulsion, massacres and death, which continues to this day. Also in 1964, in a seismic political shift, the Brazilian military took control of the government and abolished all existing political parties, creating a two-party system. For the next two decades, Brazil was ruled by a series of generals. The country's mantra was "Brazil, the Country of the Future," which the military government used as justification for a giant push into the Amazon to exploit its resources, thereby beginning to transform <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BdOX1X_JjE8/T007L1IZrOI/AAAAAAAAAOY/hA30IeXONxk/w500-h335-k/DSC_0262.JPG "/>Brazil into one of the leading economies of the world. Construction began on a transcontinental highway across the Amazon basin, aimed to encourage migration to the Amazon and to open up the region to more trade. With funding from World Bank, thousands of square miles of forest were cleared without regard for reservation status. After the highway projects came giant hydroelectric projects, then swaths of forest were cleared for cattle ranches. As a result, reservation lands suffered massive deforestation and flooding. The public works projects attracted very few migrants, but those few – and largely poor - settlers brought new diseases that further devastated the Indians population. The 1988 Brazilian Constitution recognises indigenous peoples' right to pursue their traditional ways of life and to the permanent and exclusive possession of their "traditional lands", which are demarcated as Indigenous Territories. In practice, however, Brazil's indigenous people are still face a number of external threats and challenges to their continued existence and cultural heritage. The process of demarcation is slow—often involving protracted legal battles—and FUNAI do not have sufficient resources to enforce the legal protection on indigenous land. Since the 1980s there has been a boom in the exploitation of the Amazon Rainforest for mining, logging and cattle ranching, posing a severe threat to the region's indigenous population. Settlers illegally encroaching on indigenous land continue to destroy the environment necessary for indigenous peoples' traditional ways of life, provoke violent confrontations and spread disease. Peoples such as the Akuntsu and Kanoê have been brought to the brink of extinction within the last three decades.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-40792659882670860812012-03-09T17:03:00.004+00:002012-03-09T22:24:32.403+00:00<table bgcolor="#008000" width=80% height="35" border="0" bordercolor="#008000"><tr border="0"><td><img style="float:left" width="80" height="45" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9jNs75hKjt4/T1oqf7wWkaI/AAAAAAAABFI/RBzlqrsm8aY/s260/city-of-manaus-seal.jpg" /><td><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Manaus</b></center></font></td><td><img style="float:right" width="100" height="45" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-N9VXrWebjUU/T1oqgZx1uyI/AAAAAAAABFQ/-tK0U959Fmc/s709/manausBandeira_Manaus_Amazonas_Brasil_svg.png" /><td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#4CC417" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="00"></a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td><td><a href="0">0</a></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/maps-of-manaus-see-also.html"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 50px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 45px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSqWzSHKkuvTw3m0tF9K8C3FG2TwcRTdPRKj4d5GWxGc1eRqDpHOw" /></a><font size="5"><b>Introduction: </b></font>Manaus is a city in Brazil, the capital of the state of Amazonas. It is situated at the confluence of the Negro and Solimões rivers. It is the most populous city of Amazonas, according to the statistics of Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, and is a popular ecotourist destination. Manaus belongs to mesoregion Center Amazonense and microregion Manaus. It is located in northern Brazil, 1,936 kilometers (1,203 mi) from the federal capital, Brasília. The city was founded in 1669 as the Fort of São José do Rio Negro. It was elevated to a town in 1832 with the name of "Manaus", which means "mother of the gods" in tribute to the indigenous nation of Manaós, and legally transformed into a city on October 24 of 1848 with the name of Cidade da Barra do Rio Negro, Portuguese for "The City of the Margins of Black River". Only on September 4 of 1856 did it revert to its current name. It was known at the beginning of the century, as Heart of the Amazon and City of the Forest. Currently its main economic engine is the Industrial Pool of Manaus.</td><td><table><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></td><td><table><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></td></tr><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></td></tr><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></td></tr></table></td></tr><tr><table width=100%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/things-to-do-in-manaus-manaus-is.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/landmarks-in-manaus-amazonas-opera.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/history-of-manaus-history-of-european.html">Food&Restaurants</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/useful-information-for-manaus-eduardo.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/weather-in-manaus-manaus-has-tropical.html">Weather</a></td></tr></table></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>It is the largest metropolitan area in Northern Brazil and the twelfth in all of Brazil, with 2,006,870 inhabitants (IBGE/2008). The population in 2008 was 1.71 million people; it is the eighth most populous city of Brazil according to data from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the IBGE. The city gradually increased its participation in the GDP of Brazil in recent years, rising to account for 1.4% of the economy of the country. Currently, the city is one of 12 most influential cities of the country. Manaus alone represents 10.89% of the population of the whole of Northern Brazil and 49.9% of the population of the Amazon.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>More Pictures:</b></font><table width=20%><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dkkJngsq-FE/T007IdJIKbI/AAAAAAAAANg/ldLpIcdK72o/w500-h336-k/DSC_0243.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dkkJngsq-FE/T007IdJIKbI/AAAAAAAAANg/ldLpIcdK72o/w500-h336-k/DSC_0243.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/w500-h335-k/DSC_0246.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/w500-h335-k/DSC_0246.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i5EIuYl9V4M/T007JkMBSuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/oofEP0HppX0/w500-h335-k/DSC_0251.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i5EIuYl9V4M/T007JkMBSuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/oofEP0HppX0/w500-h335-k/DSC_0251.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i5EIuYl9V4M/T007JkMBSuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/oofEP0HppX0/w500-h335-k/DSC_0251.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-i5EIuYl9V4M/T007JkMBSuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/oofEP0HppX0/w500-h335-k/DSC_0251.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YvBnOBBaFmA/T007ermV54I/AAAAAAAAATQ/xFMGkrOCyyo/w500-h335-k/DSC_0322.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YvBnOBBaFmA/T007ermV54I/AAAAAAAAATQ/xFMGkrOCyyo/w500-h335-k/DSC_0322.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NGMaxbOBs6s/T007h9hZGDI/AAAAAAAAAT4/x9zSXYV9ysc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0327.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NGMaxbOBs6s/T007h9hZGDI/AAAAAAAAAT4/x9zSXYV9ysc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0327.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xxs13spi3G0/T007gap8hMI/AAAAAAAAATs/WNI5tIvCKTU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0325.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xxs13spi3G0/T007gap8hMI/AAAAAAAAATs/WNI5tIvCKTU/w500-h335-k/DSC_0325.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8kHKdVWRfDY/T007jCD-zFI/AAAAAAAAAUU/82VMFRDivoQ/w500-h335-k/DSC_0329.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8kHKdVWRfDY/T007jCD-zFI/AAAAAAAAAUU/82VMFRDivoQ/w500-h335-k/DSC_0329.JPG"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XQhc4MUzFsA/T007mOsSjtI/AAAAAAAAAVE/wuUmhIybles/w500-h335-k/DSC_0336.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-XQhc4MUzFsA/T007mOsSjtI/AAAAAAAAAVE/wuUmhIybles/w500-h335-k/DSC_0336.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/w337-h225-n-k/DSC_0333.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/w337-h225-n-k/DSC_0333.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBT92pFaMco/T007n0VG5zI/AAAAAAAAAVc/p5MKH8rgmEQ/w500-h335-k/DSC_0339.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-eBT92pFaMco/T007n0VG5zI/AAAAAAAAAVc/p5MKH8rgmEQ/w500-h335-k/DSC_0339.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNi3pZaR3as/T007r1vu78I/AAAAAAAAAW0/ZhVlj52MW8Q/w314-h350-k/IMG_8372.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VNi3pZaR3as/T007r1vu78I/AAAAAAAAAW0/ZhVlj52MW8Q/w314-h350-k/IMG_8372.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L56He7NDWSA/T007sysFxVI/AAAAAAAAAXM/VhZhDi9mvrY/w500-h375-k/IMG_8375.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L56He7NDWSA/T007sysFxVI/AAAAAAAAAXM/VhZhDi9mvrY/w500-h375-k/IMG_8375.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ri3nJuqWtBQ/T007s-iSnhI/AAAAAAAAAXI/PgNHS5OOshI/w500-h375-k/IMG_8377.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ri3nJuqWtBQ/T007s-iSnhI/AAAAAAAAAXI/PgNHS5OOshI/w500-h375-k/IMG_8377.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ab27jCQ2Uxg/T007ttX3nEI/AAAAAAAAAXg/ikW8mPew0EQ/w500-h375-k/IMG_8378.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Ab27jCQ2Uxg/T007ttX3nEI/AAAAAAAAAXg/ikW8mPew0EQ/w500-h375-k/IMG_8378.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KoEiVKejko/T007yyF205I/AAAAAAAAAZI/4ZNrtPPrDhQ/w500-h375-k/IMG_8399.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KoEiVKejko/T007yyF205I/AAAAAAAAAZI/4ZNrtPPrDhQ/w500-h375-k/IMG_8399.JPG"></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a0KNUYHJEOg/T007z_AxlpI/AAAAAAAAAZY/nnovH6vyEPw/w500-h375-k/IMG_8402.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-a0KNUYHJEOg/T007z_AxlpI/AAAAAAAAAZY/nnovH6vyEPw/w500-h375-k/IMG_8402.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nyqUqy8WGyc/T0088zxyLnI/AAAAAAAAAzo/dTTL9-nU6tg/w500-h335-k/DSC_0005.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nyqUqy8WGyc/T0088zxyLnI/AAAAAAAAAzo/dTTL9-nU6tg/w500-h335-k/DSC_0005.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4S8o4liRbug/T008_ZGPlhI/AAAAAAAAAzo/fzpvkDV79-Y/w500-h335-k/DSC_0011.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4S8o4liRbug/T008_ZGPlhI/AAAAAAAAAzo/fzpvkDV79-Y/w500-h335-k/DSC_0011.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uGhY27tm1Lg/T009BTBgs5I/AAAAAAAAAzo/dfmbEcprSBc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0016.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uGhY27tm1Lg/T009BTBgs5I/AAAAAAAAAzo/dfmbEcprSBc/w500-h335-k/DSC_0016.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jqDxJu1ZyKk/T008MUXFrLI/AAAAAAAAAiM/YwVCqeVxRoo/w500-h375-k/IMG_8535.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jqDxJu1ZyKk/T008MUXFrLI/AAAAAAAAAiM/YwVCqeVxRoo/w500-h375-k/IMG_8535.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WsT-QyikB9k/T0071Mu7jFI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/89MjdBMMYaE/w441-h332-k/IMG_8406.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WsT-QyikB9k/T0071Mu7jFI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/89MjdBMMYaE/w441-h332-k/IMG_8406.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MxpDsZF7PIU/T008MiEfHkI/AAAAAAAAAiU/r9X6KkCfZ28/w500-h375-k/IMG_8536.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MxpDsZF7PIU/T008MiEfHkI/AAAAAAAAAiU/r9X6KkCfZ28/w500-h375-k/IMG_8536.JPG"></a></td><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gYqwFLqjg60/T007pX_edOI/AAAAAAAAAV4/auTo2Nfjp40/w500-h335-k/DSC_0343.JPG"><img height="77" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gYqwFLqjg60/T007pX_edOI/AAAAAAAAAV4/auTo2Nfjp40/w500-h335-k/DSC_0343.JPG"></a></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-39055862650163134062012-03-09T16:37:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:25.577+00:00<table bgcolor="#254117" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Maps of Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#709B86" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ve4zBTUnkuQ/T1oqhO9gtcI/AAAAAAAABFc/2ngyiiDyXes/s466/map_of_manaus.jpg "/><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ve4zBTUnkuQ/T1oqhO9gtcI/AAAAAAAABFc/2ngyiiDyXes/s466/map_of_manaus.jpg"/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pZPev6GaxFs/T1oqhN9IGEI/AAAAAAAABFY/9inAUbIHUaE/s640/manaus-map.jpg"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pZPev6GaxFs/T1oqhN9IGEI/AAAAAAAABFY/9inAUbIHUaE/s640/manaus-map.jpg"></a></td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-13978782299719402222012-03-09T15:53:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:20.916+00:00<table bgcolor="#C35617" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Landmarks in Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#F88017" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td><b><a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html”>Amazonas Opera House</a></b> <br>The <a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html”>Amazonas Opera House</a> has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought over from Europe, French glass and Italian marble. Several important opera and theater companies, as well as international orchestras, have already performed there. The Theater is home to the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra which regularly rehearses and performs there along with choirs, jazz bands, dance performances and more.<br><b>Meeting of the Waters </b><br>The natural phenomenon of the confluence of the Rio Negro's water and the Solimões River's water.This natural phenomenon is caused by the confluence of the Negro River's dark water and the Solimões River's muddy brown water that come together to form the Amazonas River. For 6 km (3.7 mi), both rivers waters run side by side, without mixing. This phenomenon is caused by the great difference between the water temperatures and current speeds. The Negro River flows approximately 2 km/h (1.2 mi/h) at 28 °C (82 °F), while the Solimões River flows 4 to 6 km/h (2.4 to 3.7 mi/h) at 22 °C (72 °F). <br><b>CIGS Zoo </b><br>The zoo is open to the public. It is managed by the Brazilian Army and has approximately 300 species of animals from the Amazon fauna.<br></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td><b> Beaches and waterfalls </b><br>For outings to beaches and parks situated near the city, it is often necessary to use boats. The beaches are formed right after the river water level starts dropping, which lasts from August to November. Starting in December, as the river rises, the waters invade the sand and the woods on the banks. The Paricatuba Waterfall, located on the right bank of the Negro River, along a small tributary, is formed by sedimentary rocks, surrounded by abundant vegetation. Access is by boat. The best time to visit is from August to February. Love Cascade located in the Guedes bayou, with cold and crystal clear water, is accessible only by boat and, then, hiking through the forest. Tupé Beach is approximately 34 km (21 mi) from Manaus, this beach is well frequented by bathers on holidays and weekends. It is accessible only by boat. Moon Beach is located on the left bank of the Negro River, 23 km (14 mi) from Manaus. It is accessed only by boat. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon and is surrounded by rare vegetation. Lion waterfall is located on km 34 of the AM-010 highway (Manaus-Itacoatiara).</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-86445912690308615252012-03-09T15:48:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:24:16.482+00:00<table bgcolor="#7E2217" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Things to do in Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#E41B17" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Manaus is a cosmopolitan city, and, because of its location next to the Amazon rain forest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists, who can find plenty of boat and land trips into the surrounding jungle. A great diversity of wildlife can be found even in the surroundings of Manaus. It is also home to one of the most endangered primates in Brazil, the Pied tamarin. Tour boats leave Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black waters of the Negro River meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River, flowing side by side without mixing for about 9 km. Visitors can also explore river banks and "igarapes", swim and canoe in placid lakes or simply walk in the lush forest or stay at hotels in the jungle. About 18 km (11 mi) from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. A luxurious hotel is located at the west end of Ponta Negra; its small but very interesting zoo and orchid greenhouse as well as preserved woods and beach are open for public visits. The Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882, is the city's oldest marketplace, trading in fruit, vegetables, and especially fish. It is a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. Other interesting historical sites include the customs building, of mixed styles and medieval inspiration; the Rio Negro Palace cultural center; and the Justice Palace, right next to the <a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html”>Amazonas Opera House</a>.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Manaus has also many large parks with native forest preservation areas, such as the Bosque da Ciência and Parque do Mindú. The largest urban forest in the world is located within Federal University of Amazonas, which was founded on January 17, 1909 and is the oldest federal university of Brazil. The city has a busy cultural calendar throughout the year, including the Opera, Theater, Jazz and Cinema festivals, as well as Boi Manaus (usually held around Manaus' anniversary on the 24th of October), which is a great celebration of Northern Brazilian culture through Boi-Bumbá music. <b><a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html”>Amazonas Opera House</a></b> The <a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html”>Amazonas Opera House</a> has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought over from Europe, French glass and Italian marble. Several important opera and theater companies, as well as international orchestras, have already performed there. The Theater is home to the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra which regularly rehearses and performs there along with choirs, jazz bands, dance performances and more.<b> ParksPonta Negra Cultural, Sport and Leisure Park</b> Ponta Negra beach, located 13 km (8.1 mi) from downtown Manaus, is one of the city's most important tourist attctions. It also has an amphitheater with capacity for 15.000 people. <b>Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden</b> The Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden, inside a 100 km² ecological reserve, holds a huge number of plant and animal species. <b>Municipal Park of Mindú</b> It is located in an urban area, in the November 10 Park district. It was created in 1992 to be an area of ecological interest. It covers an area of 330,000 m2 (3,552,090 sq ft) of forest remaining from the Township, and is used for scientific, educational, cultural and tourist activities. It is one of the last habitats for the sauim-de-coleira, a species of monkey that only exists in the Manaus region and is threatened with extinction. It is possible to walk through four distinct ecosystems in the park: land covered by secondary growth, firm ground brush, sandbanks and degraded areas that were illegally cleared in 1989. It also has an amphitheater for 600 people, gardens planted with medicinal and aromatic herbs, orchid nursery, aerial trails and signs aiming to develop environmental education programs. <b> Public Swimming Areas </b> The Tarumã, Tarumãzinho and Cachoeira das Almas bayous (branches of rivers), located near the city, are leisure spots for the population on weekends. Manaus has several public swimming areas that are being remodeled and urbanized lately. There are also many private clubs that can be visited.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-446306562918147722012-03-09T15:44:00.003+00:002012-03-09T22:24:06.543+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>The Amazon Theatre</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Amazon Theatre (Teatro Amazonas) is an opera house located in the heart of Manaus, inside the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. It is the location of the annual Festival Amazonas de Ópera (Amazonas Opera Festival) held every year from March until May, and is home to the Amazonas Philharmonic Orchestra who regularly rehearses and performs at the Amazon Theater along with choirs, jazz bands, dance performances and more. It was built during the Belle Époque at a time when fortunes were made in the rubber boom. Construction of the Amazon Theater was first proposed in 1881 by a member of the House of Representatives, Antonio Jose Fernandes Júnior, the idea being to construct a jewel in the heart of the Amazonian forest and to make Manaus one of the great centers of civilization.In the following year the State legislature approved some limited financing, but this was considered insufficient. In 1882, the president of the Province, Jose Lustosa Paranaguá, approved a larger budget and initiated a competition for the presentation of plans. The chosen project was made by the Gabinete Português de Engenharia e Arquitectura, an engineering and architecture office from Lisbon, in 1883. By 1884, construction was ready to begin under the Italian architect Celestial Sacardim who planned for the theatre in the Renaissance style to be state of the art and to include electric lighting.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ROLzA0OV_as/T009C-zz0PI/AAAAAAAAAzo/48TzormQANM/s1105/DSC_0030.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ROLzA0OV_as/T009C-zz0PI/AAAAAAAAAzo/48TzormQANM/s1105/DSC_0030.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gYRHjrpwyZ0/T009C1mVh_I/AAAAAAAAAzo/hPUo0Cvi6-Y/s1105/DSC_0026.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-gYRHjrpwyZ0/T009C1mVh_I/AAAAAAAAAzo/hPUo0Cvi6-Y/s1105/DSC_0026.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7mhOi8b6AvA/T007u1mf2iI/AAAAAAAAAX4/1a6pBuq3Kys/s942/IMG_8387.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7mhOi8b6AvA/T007u1mf2iI/AAAAAAAAAX4/1a6pBuq3Kys/s942/IMG_8387.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YvBnOBBaFmA/T007ermV54I/AAAAAAAAATQ/xFMGkrOCyyo/s1105/DSC_0322.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YvBnOBBaFmA/T007ermV54I/AAAAAAAAATQ/xFMGkrOCyyo/s1105/DSC_0322.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Work proceeded slowly over the following fifteen years with some stops and re-starts from 1885 to 1892. Roofing tiles came from Alsace while, from Paris, came furniture and furnishings in the style of <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 240px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6NdC5fq_jdU/T007riQaVmI/AAAAAAAAAWw/mxVKVAfu6iY/s740/IMG_8373.JPG "/>Louis XV, much from the Koch Fréres company. From Italy came Carrarra marble for the stairs, statues, and columns. Steel walls were ordered from England. The theatre has 198 chandeliers, including 32 of Murano glass. The curtain, with its painting the "Meeting of the Waters" was originally created in Paris by Crispim do Amaral, depicts the junction of the Rio Negro and the Solimões to form the Amazon. On the outside of the building, the dome is covered with 36,000 decorated ceramic tiles painted in the colors of the national flag. Work recommenced in 1893. By 1895, when the masonry work and external was completed, the decoration of the interior, and the installation of electric lighting, could begin more rapidly. The Italian Domenico de Angelis painted the beautiful panels that decorate the ceilings of the auditorium and of the audience chamber. However, even after its inauguration and first public presentations, two more years would pass before the building was finally completed, a project taking seventeen years in all. The theatre was inaugurated on 31 December 1896, with the first performance occurring on 7 January 1897 with the Italian opera, La Gioconda, by Amilcare Ponchielli. It has been restored four times, most recently in 1929, 1974 and between 1988 and 1990, and it currently has 701 seats covered with red velvet. At nightIt has been noted that, as of 2001, opera is once again flourishing at the theatre: "Until four years ago, there had been no opera here for almost 90 years. Then a new governor of Amazonas was elected, a populist called Amazonino Mendes, who decided that his city should have a top-quality professional orchestra, choir and corps de ballet. He set aside about 1.5 million pounds a year, an enormous amount in a state where half the population is illiterate and living on about 60 pounds a month. As a result Manaus has become the focus of a most unlikely musical migration. Some of Eastern Europe's best musicians have been tempted from such orchestras as the Kirov to Manaus with the lure of much higher wages. A large percentage of musicians from the Amazon Philharmonic orchestra are from Bulgaria, Belarus and Russia. Even the archivist hails from Belarus". Today, the theatre is also the location for an annual film festival. The theatre is featured in the film Fitzcarraldo directed by the German director Werner Herzog in 1982. At the beginning of the film, the opera-obsessed character Brian Sweeney "Fitzcarraldo" Fitzgerald makes his way to the opera house to hear Enrico Caruso sing in Verdi's Ernani. He arrives right at the end of the opera and there are scenes of the interior of house. While it is believed that the house was constructed to attract Caruso to perform at its opening, there is some doubt that he actually did perform there. It is featured twice in novels by Eva Ibbotson: Journey to the River Sea and A Company of Swans. Both are adventure stories set principally in the city of Manaus (where the theatre is situated) and surroundings in 1912. In the former (children's) book a visiting acting group performs the play, Little Lord Fauntleroy at the theatre, which is briefly described. In the latter (young adult) novel a visiting ballet troupe performs Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker and La Fille Mal Gardee at the theatre. Author and naturalist Sy Montgomery gives a historical account of the building of the theater in her 2001 book, "Journey of the Pink Dolphins". It is featured in the 2011 novel "State of Wonder" by Ann Patchett.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-47950417502656437692012-03-08T23:04:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:23:55.689+00:00<table bgcolor="#4E8975" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Useful Information for Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#348781" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Eduardo Gomes International Airport is the airport serving Manaus. The airport has two passenger terminals, one for scheduled flights and the other for regional aviation. It also has three cargo terminals Eduardo Gomes International Airport is Brazil's third largest in freight movement, handling the import and export demand from the Manaus Industrial Complex. For this reason, Infraero invested in construction of the third cargo terminal, opened on December 14, 2004. Manaus Air Force Base, a base of the Brazilian Air Force is at the former Ponta Pelada Airport.<b> Highways</b> There are two federal highways connecting the city to the rest of the country. There is a paved road going North (BR-174) connecting Manaus to Boa Vista, capital of the State of Roraima, and to Venezuela. The BR-319 goes South connecting Manaus to Porto Velho, Rondônia.</td><td><table><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></td><td><table><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></td></tr><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></td></tr><tr><td><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td><b>Port of Manaus. </b> Shore and boats in Manaus.Ships dock at the main port in Manaus directly downtown. Lying on the banks of the Negro River, it is 1,450 kilometers (900 mi) inland in the heart of the Amazon rain forest. The terraced city is home to a network of bridged channels that divide it into several compartments. Several mobile phone companies have manufacturing plants in the Port of Manaus, and other major electronics manufacturers have plants there. Major exports include Brazil nuts, chemicals, petroleum, electrical equipment, and forest products, and eco-tourism is an increasingly important source of income for the city. The recent discovery of petroleum in the area brings great promise of further wealth and commerce to the Port of Manaus. Today, the Port of Manaus is an important commercial center for ocean-going vessels traveling the Amazon. In fact, it is the main transport hub for the entire upper Amazon Basin. It imports beef from the hinterlands and exports hides and leather. Important industries in the Port of Manaus include manufacturing of soap, chemicals, electronics equipment as well as shipbuilding, brewing, and petroleum refining. With so much industry and commerce, the Port of Manaus has become a sophisticated cosmopolitan center. Located next to the Amazon rain forest, it also attracts crowds of tourists who find a variety of land and boat trips into the jungle. Wildlife is plentiful, even within the city, and it is home to the Pied Tamarin, one of Brazil's most endangered primates. Tour boats take visitors to see the point where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet the Solimões River's brown waters, flowing together without mixing for nine kilometers (5.5 miles).</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-3351096252567471422012-03-08T23:01:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:23:51.471+00:00<table bgcolor="#6C2DC7" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>Weather in Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#893BFF" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Manaus has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification "Am"). Rainfall intensity is somewhat seasonal, with one half of the year (coinciding with the Southern winter) being half as rainy as the other. Manaus technically has a dry season month, August, where less than 60 mm (2 in) of precipitation falls. Because of this dry season month, the city’s climate falls under the tropical monsoon climate category instead of the tropical rainforest climate category.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Average annual temperature is 26.6C (80F), with more or less consistent temperatures all year round.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-8761390846682328742012-03-08T22:55:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:23:47.824+00:00<table bgcolor="#6698FF" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="white"><center><b>History of Manaus</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#98CAFF" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The history of the European colonization of Manaus began in 1669 with the building of a fort in rock and clay, with four cannon guarding the curtains. The Fort of São José da Barra do Rio Negro was built to ensure the predominance of Portugal in the region, especially against the invasion of the Dutch, at that time headquartered in what is today Suriname. The fort held that function for more than 114 years. Next to the fort there were many indigenous mestizos, who helped in its construction and began to live in the vicinity. The population grew so much that in 1695, to aid catechism, the missionaries (Carmelite, Jesuit, Franciscan) resolved to erect near the fort a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, which in time became the patron saint of the city. The Royal Charter of March 3 of 1755, created the Capitania of Sao Jose do Rio Negro, with headquarters in Mariuá (now Barcelos), but the governor Lobo D'Almada, fearing Spanish invasions, the seat went back to the bar in place of 1791, being located at the confluence of the rivers Black and Amazon it was a strategic point. On November 13 of 1832, the place of the bar became the category of town with the name of the town of Manaus and on October 24 of 1848, with Law 145 of the Provincial Assembly Paraense, acquired the name of the Bar of the City of Rio Negro. On September 4 of 1856 the governor Herculano Ferreira Pena finally gave him the name "Manaus". The Cabanagem was the revolt in which blacks, Indians and mestizos protested against the political elite and took power in 1835. The entry of the High Amazonas (Manaus today, which was the cradle of the city in the Western Amazon) in Cabanagem was crucial for the birth of the current state of the Amazon.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aDlb9iLmX3U/T007k7Mfe3I/AAAAAAAAAUw/VJ33EOGmmac/s1105/DSC_0333.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-yHsO4bV90do/T007uVO6FWI/AAAAAAAAAXs/_CKki42wDhI/s987/IMG_8384.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HtUs13gUOQU/T007vJ9V8fI/AAAAAAAAAYA/pQMDTCqcqRc/s987/IMG_8385.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pN9lHbDkjiI/T007Ja9vFYI/AAAAAAAAANw/yJg4Wp3lRpw/s1105/DSC_0246.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>During the period of revolution, the Cabanos of the High Amazon, bands of rebels, roamed throughout <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-73PR3EkvqI8/T007JzIsFaI/AAAAAAAAAN4/rLbrzSnTN2U/s1105/DSC_0250.JPG "/>the region, and in most settlements their arrival was greeted by the non-white population's spontaneously joining their ranks and there was a greater number of adherents to the movement. With that there was an integration of people surrounding thus forming the state, thanks to Cabanagem. the city was built because of the <a href=” http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html”>rubber trees</a>. Manaus was at the center of the Amazon region's rubber boom during the late 19th century. For a time, it was "one of the gaudiest cities of the world" One historian has written, "No extravagance, however absurd, deterred" the rubber barons. "If one rubber baron bought a vast yacht, another would install a tame lion in his villa, and a third would water his horse on champagne." The decadence extended to a grand opera house, vast domes and gilded balconies, and marble, glass, and crystal, from around Europe. The opera house cost ten million (public-funded) dollars, but its foolhardiness was demonstrated by the death by yellow fever of half the members of one visiting opera troupe. The opera house, called the Teatro Amazonas, still exists today; it has been restored, was used in the Werner Herzog film Fitzcarraldo, and after a type of interlude lasting almost 90 years, presents operas once again. When the seeds of the rubber tree were smuggled out of the Amazon region, Brazil lost its monopoly on the product and Manaus fell into poverty. The rubber boom had brought electricity to the city before it arrived in many European cities, but the end of the rubber boom made the generators too expensive to run, and the city lost artificial lighting for years. Today's sprawling city of 2 million inhabitants has been generated, so to speak, to a large extent by the duty-free policy that began in the 1950s.The declaration of a duty free zone in Manaus added to the economic prosperity of the city.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-89136756777775121962012-03-08T22:46:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:23:44.098+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Rubber Tree</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Hevea brasiliensis, the Pará rubber tree, often simply called rubber tree, is a tree belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae, and the most economically important member of the genus Hevea. It is of major economic importance because its sap-like extract (known as latex) is the primary source of natural rubber. In the wild, the tree can reach a height of up to 100 feet (30 m). The white or yellow latex occurs in latex vessels in the bark, mostly outside the phloem. These vessels spiral up the tree in a right-handed helix which forms an angle of about 30 degrees with the horizontal, and can grow as high as 45 ft. In plantations, the trees are kept smaller, up to 78 feet (24 m) tall, so as to use most of the available carbon dioxide for latex production. The tree requires a climate with heavy rainfall and without frost. If frost does occur, the results can be disastrous for production. One frost can cause the rubber from an entire plantation to become brittle and break once it has been refined. Once the trees are 5–6 years old, harvesting can begin: incisions are made orthogonally to the latex vessels, just deep enough to tap the vessels without harming the tree's growth, and the sap is collected in small buckets. This process is known as rubber tapping. Older trees yield more latex. The Pará rubber tree initially grew only in the Amazon Rainforest. Increasing demand and the discovery of the vulcanization procedure in 1839 led to the rubber boom in that region, enriching the cities of Belém and Manaus. The name of the tree derives from Pará, the second largest Brazilian state, the capital of which is Belém.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HQc5l0WbQZk/T007CusvjLI/AAAAAAAAALc/22jzlO0gaWE/s1105/DSC_0189.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-HQc5l0WbQZk/T007CusvjLI/AAAAAAAAALc/22jzlO0gaWE/s1105/DSC_0189.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RcDvgtEVPZ8/T007EKi_GOI/AAAAAAAAAL8/hgvQg33-1PA/s1105/DSC_0191.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-RcDvgtEVPZ8/T007EKi_GOI/AAAAAAAAAL8/hgvQg33-1PA/s1105/DSC_0191.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GZ6gXp7It_A/T007ChSdKzI/AAAAAAAAALY/t38HskbLRsU/s1105/DSC_0188.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GZ6gXp7It_A/T007ChSdKzI/AAAAAAAAALY/t38HskbLRsU/s1105/DSC_0188.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6IRiLsdte4g/T007D8hzE_I/AAAAAAAAAL0/LVqR-05HYcM/s1105/DSC_0192.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6IRiLsdte4g/T007D8hzE_I/AAAAAAAAAL0/LVqR-05HYcM/s1105/DSC_0192.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>These trees were used to obtain rubber by the natives that inhabited within its geographical <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hUNQ4XyfP-8/T008ElrfHNI/AAAAAAAAAfk/d-5bghUbGW4/s987/IMG_8497.JPG "/>distribution. The Olmec people of Mesoamerica extracted and produced similar forms of primitive rubber from analogous latex-producing trees such as castilla elastica as early as 3600 years ago. The rubber was used, among other things, to make the balls used in the Mesoamerican ballgame. Early attempts were made in 1873 to grow hevea brasilensis outside Brazil. After some effort, twelve seedlings were germinated at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. These were sent to India for cultivation, but died. A second attempt was then made, some 70,000 seeds being smuggled to Kew in 1875, by Henry Wickham, at the service of the British Empire. About 4% of these germinated, and in 1876 about 2000 seedlings were sent, in Wardian cases, to Ceylon, and 22 were sent to the Botanic Gardens in Singapore. Once established outside its native country, rubber was extensively propagated in the British colonies. Rubber trees were brought to the botanical gardens at Buitenzorg, Java in 1883. By 1898, a rubber plantation had been established in Malaya, and today, most rubber tree plantations are in South and Southeast Asia, with some also in tropical West Africa. Efforts to cultivate the tree in South America (Amazon) were unsatisfactory because of blight.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-44777425626091309552012-03-08T22:39:00.001+00:002012-03-09T22:23:40.454+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Termites</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Termites are a group of eusocial insects that, until recently, were classified at the taxonomic rank of order Isoptera (see taxonomy below), but are now accepted as the epifamily Termitoidae, of the cockroach order Blattodea. While termites are commonly known, especially in Australia, as "white ants," they are only distantly related to the ants. Like ants, some bees, and wasps—which are all placed in the separate order Hymenoptera—termites divide labour among castes, produce overlapping generations and take care of young collectively. Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of wood, leaf litter, soil, or animal dung, and about 10 percent of the estimated 4,000 species (about 2,600 taxonomically known) are economically significant as pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites are major detritivores, particularly in the subtropical and tropical regions, and their recycling of wood and other plant matter is of considerable ecological importance. As eusocial insects, termites live in colonies that, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. Colonies use decentralised, self-organised systems of activity guided by swarm intelligence which exploit food sources and environments unavailable to any single insect acting alone. A typical colony contains nymphs (semi-mature young), workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XLA-tQ4me_s/T006qUc_0pI/AAAAAAAAAEY/gu5lPqMCMls/s977/DSC_0034.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XLA-tQ4me_s/T006qUc_0pI/AAAAAAAAAEY/gu5lPqMCMls/s977/DSC_0034.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BIVQNG4l1jg/T006qhGJk1I/AAAAAAAAAEc/QGXTbJs7EFg/s740/DSC_0036.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BIVQNG4l1jg/T006qhGJk1I/AAAAAAAAAEc/QGXTbJs7EFg/s740/DSC_0036.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fWNoIEJAuCs/T1YyWL9QVPI/AAAAAAAABDY/uBZODrE4o2g/s987/PTDC0010.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fWNoIEJAuCs/T1YyWL9QVPI/AAAAAAAABDY/uBZODrE4o2g/s987/PTDC0010.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XLA-tQ4me_s/T006qUc_0pI/AAAAAAAAAEY/gu5lPqMCMls/s977/DSC_0034.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XLA-tQ4me_s/T006qUc_0pI/AAAAAAAAAEY/gu5lPqMCMls/s977/DSC_0034.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Worker termites undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance, and some defense duties in certain species. Workers are the main caste in the colony for the digestion of cellulose in food and are the most likely to be found in infested wood. This is achieved in one of two ways. In all termite families except the Termitidae, flagellate protists in the gut assist in cellulose digestion. However, in the Termitidae, which account for approximately 60% of all termite species, the flagellates have been lost and this digestive role is taken up, in part, by a consortium of prokaryotic organisms. This simple story, which has been in entomology textbooks for decades, is complicated by the finding that all studied termites can produce their own cellulase enzymes, and therefore might digest wood in the absence of their symbiotic microbes, although new evidence suggests these gut microbes make use of termite-produced cellulase enzymes. Our knowledge of the relationships between the microbial and termite parts of their digestion is still rudimentary. What is true in all termite species, however, is the workers feed the other members of the colony with substances derived from the digestion of plant material, either from the mouth or anus. This process of feeding of one colony member by another is known as trophallaxis, and is one of the keys to the success of the group. It frees the parents from feeding all but the first generation of offspring, allowing for the group to grow much larger and ensuring the necessary gut symbionts are transferred from one generation to another. Some termite species do not have a true worker caste, instead relying on nymphs that perform the same work without differentiating as a separate caste. Termites are generally grouped according to their feeding behaviour. Thus, the commonly used general groupings are subterranean, soil-feeding, drywood, dampwood, and grass-eating. Of these, subterraneans and drywoods are primarily responsible for damage to human-made structures. All termites eat cellulose in its various forms as plant fibre. Cellulose is a rich energy source (as demonstrated by the amount of energy released when wood is burned), but remains difficult to digest. Termites rely primarily upon symbiotic protozoa (metamonads) such as Trichonympha, and other microbes in their gut to digest the cellulose for them and absorb the end products for their own use. Gut protozoa, such as Trichonympha, in turn rely on symbiotic bacteria embedded on their surfaces to produce some of the necessary digestive enzymes. This relationship is one of the finest examples of mutualism among animals. Most so-called higher termites, especially in the Family Termitidae, can produce their own cellulase enzymes. However, they still retain a rich gut fauna and primarily rely upon the bacteria. Owing to closely related bacterial species, it is strongly presumed that the termites' gut flora are descended from the gut flora of the ancestral wood-eating cockroaches, like those of the genus Cryptocercus. Some species of termite practice fungiculture. They maintain a “garden” of specialized fungi of genus Termitomyces, which are nourished by the excrement of the insects. When the fungi are eaten, their spores pass undamaged through the intestines of the termites to complete the cycle by germinating in the fresh faecal pellets. They are also well known for eating smaller insects in a last resort environment. Termite workers build and maintain nests which house the colony. These are elaborate structures made using a combination of soil, mud, chewed wood/cellulose, saliva, and feces. A nest has many functions such as providing a protected living space and water conservation (through controlled condensation). There are nursery chambers deep within the nest where eggs and first instar larvae are tended. Some species maintain fungal gardens that are fed on collected plant matter, providing a nutritious mycelium on which the colony then feeds (see "Diet," above). Nests are punctuated by a maze of tunnel-like galleries that provide air conditioning and control the CO2/O2 balance, as well as allow the termites to move through the nest. Nests are commonly built underground, in large pieces of timber, inside fallen trees or atop living trees. Some species build nests aboveground, and they can develop into mounds. Homeowners need to be careful of tree stumps that have not been dug up. These are prime candidates for termite nests and being close to homes, termites usually end up destroying the siding and sometimes even wooden beams.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-32707115967179478562012-03-08T22:31:00.003+00:002012-03-09T22:23:36.181+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Caiman / Alligator / Cocodrile</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove (literally, "raise") meat." Carnival have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection. Rhythm, participation, and costumes vary from one region of Brazil to another. In the southeastern cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, huge organized parades are led by samba schools. Those official parades are meant to be watched by the public, while minor parades ("blocos") allowing public participation can be found in other cities. The northeastern cities of Salvador, Porto Seguro and Recife have organized groups parading through streets, and public interacts directly with them. This carnival is also influenced by African-Brazilian culture. It's a six-day party where crowds follow the trios elétricos through the city streets, dancing and singing. Also in northeast, Olinda carnival features unique characteristics, part influenced by Venice Carnival mixed with cultural depictions of local folklore. The typical genres of music of Brazilian carnival are, in Rio de Janeiro (and Southeast Region in general): the samba-enredo, the samba de bloco, the samba de embalo and the marchinha; in Pernambuco and Bahia (and Northeast Region in general) the main genres are: the frevo, the maracatu, the samba-reggae and Axé music.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OfGh8qf22wg/T008Cm1BeRI/AAAAAAAAAes/teX7EsHKoRA/s901/IMG_8474.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OfGh8qf22wg/T008Cm1BeRI/AAAAAAAAAes/teX7EsHKoRA/s901/IMG_8474.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7LBiCdR4ujA/T008DbRI8PI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_rDaTbLqJ6k/s560/IMG_8491+-+Copy+-+Copy.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7LBiCdR4ujA/T008DbRI8PI/AAAAAAAAAe4/_rDaTbLqJ6k/s560/IMG_8491+-+Copy+-+Copy.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jSyigwjDWHI/T008BFD8sQI/AAAAAAAAAd8/y2efF-FZRfc/s1231/IMG_8467.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jSyigwjDWHI/T008BFD8sQI/AAAAAAAAAd8/y2efF-FZRfc/s1231/IMG_8467.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GNf2-zx7roM/T006l6f1r6I/AAAAAAAAADQ/pKsN9L3Xydo/s1105/DSC_0010.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GNf2-zx7roM/T006l6f1r6I/AAAAAAAAADQ/pKsN9L3Xydo/s1105/DSC_0010.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>The black caiman is one of the largest reptiles. It is the largest predator in the Amazon basin and possibly <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 240px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qizzDktc9Zc/T008DNOeWBI/AAAAAAAAAe0/OW8Ht9Ueaak/s740/IMG_8489.JPG "/>the largest member of the family Alligatoridae. Most adult black caimans are 3 to 4.26 metres (9.8–14 ft) in lengths, with old males rarely growing larger than 5 metres (16 ft). The black caiman broadly overlaps in size with the American alligator, although it is on average larger at maturity. In some areas (such as the Araguaia River) this species is consistently reported at 4 to 5 metres (13–16 ft) in length, much larger than the alligator (which rarely even reaches 4 meters), although specimens this size are uncommon. Several unconfirmed sources report that the black caiman can grow to 6 metres (20 ft) or more. It is, however, the third largest crocodilian in South America behind the American Crocodile and Orinoco Crocodile. Immature specimens eat crustaceans and insects but quickly graduate to eating fish, including piranhas, catfish, and perch, which remain the primary food source for all black caiman. Various prey will be taken by opportunity, includes turtles, birds and mammals, the latter two mainly when they come to drink at the river banks. Larger specimens can take tapirs, anacondas, deer and capybara. Jaguars are a known predator of all other caiman species as well as juvenile black caimans, but mature black caimans likely have no natural predators, as is true of other similarly-sized crocodilian species (given the size, weight and immense biting strength). Their teeth are designed to grab but not rip, so they generally try to swallow their food whole after drowning it. Their main predator is humans, who hunt them for leather or meat. There are tales of this species devouring humans and given its size this is probable, although (like the critically endangered, but potentially dangerous Orinoco Crocodile of Venezuela) it is very <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 240px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-2hn3a2nUKRk/T008CGHs_GI/AAAAAAAAAeY/VuiBtVOemKA/s740/IMG_8473.JPG "/>unlikely humans have been attacked in modern times, due in part to the species' low population - and given that most man-eaters in other crocodilian species tend to be large adult males, this further reduces the probability. At the end of the dry season, females build a nest of soil and vegetation, which is about 1.5 meters (5 ft) across and 0.75 meters wide (2.5 ft). They lay up to 60 eggs, which hatch in about six weeks, at the beginning of the wet season, when newly-flooded marshes provide ideal habitat for the juveniles. Unguarded clutches are quickly devoured by a wide range of animals. It is well documented that, as with other crocodilians, caimans frequently move their young from the nest in their mouths after hatching (whence the belief that they eat their young), and transport them to a safe pool. The mother will assist chirping, unhatched young to break out of the leathery eggs, by delicately breaking the eggs between her teeth. She will look after her young for several months. The female black caiman only breeds once every 2 to 3 years.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-59098036036270438872012-03-08T22:21:00.001+00:002012-03-09T22:23:32.030+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Brazilian Carnaval / Carnaval do Brazil</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>The Carnival of Brazil is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove (literally, "raise") meat." Carnival have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection. Rhythm, participation, and costumes vary from one region of Brazil to another. In the southeastern cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, huge organized parades are led by samba schools. Those official parades are meant to be watched by the public, while minor parades ("blocos") allowing public participation can be found in other cities. The northeastern cities of Salvador, Porto Seguro and Recife have organized groups parading through streets, and public interacts directly with them. This carnival is also influenced by African-Brazilian culture. It's a six-day party where crowds follow the trios elétricos through the city streets, dancing and singing. Also in northeast, Olinda carnival features unique characteristics, part influenced by Venice Carnival mixed with cultural depictions of local folklore. The typical genres of music of Brazilian carnival are, in Rio de Janeiro (and Southeast Region in general): the samba-enredo, the samba de bloco, the samba de embalo and the marchinha; in Pernambuco and Bahia (and Northeast Region in general) the main genres are: the frevo, the maracatu, the samba-reggae and Axé music.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K-Lv2_gNHyQ/T007xf8LFTI/AAAAAAAAAYs/kKC6SR-232Q/s987/IMG_8394.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K-Lv2_gNHyQ/T007xf8LFTI/AAAAAAAAAYs/kKC6SR-232Q/s987/IMG_8394.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TPhHkvpc988/T007whqo-mI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2XwHDyA9Tkg/s987/IMG_8392.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-TPhHkvpc988/T007whqo-mI/AAAAAAAAAYc/2XwHDyA9Tkg/s987/IMG_8392.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZgwwLWld3Yc/T0072J8PVGI/AAAAAAAAAaE/antoU2Hdlo8/s987/IMG_8408.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ZgwwLWld3Yc/T0072J8PVGI/AAAAAAAAAaE/antoU2Hdlo8/s987/IMG_8408.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WsT-QyikB9k/T0071Mu7jFI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/89MjdBMMYaE/s987/IMG_8406.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WsT-QyikB9k/T0071Mu7jFI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/89MjdBMMYaE/s987/IMG_8406.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>Carnival is the most famous holiday in Brazil and has become an event of huge proportions. Excepted the industries, malls and the carnival related workers, the country stops completely for almost a week and festivities are intense, day and night, mainly in coastal cities. The consumption of beer accounts for 80% of annual consumption and tourism receives 70% of annual visitors. The government distributes <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GHZjkIfMiqI/T007z9QmXYI/AAAAAAAAAZU/50E_mXAljdU/s987/IMG_8401.JPG "/>condoms and launches awareness campaigns at this time to prevent the spread of AIDS. Rio de Janeiro's carnival alone drew 4.9 million people in 2011, with 400,000 being foreigners. Hurting Cases parties from Paris. It originally mimicked the European form of the festival, later absorbing and creolizing elements derived from Native American and African cultures. In the late 19th century, the cordões (literally "cords", laces or strings in Portuguese) were introduced in Rio de Janeiro. These were pageant groups that paraded through city avenues performing on instruments and dancing. Today they are known as Blocos (blocks), consisting of a group of people who dress in costumes or special t-shirts with themes and/or logos. Blocos are generally associated with particular neighborhoods; they include both a percussion or music group and an entourage of revellers. Block parades have become an expressive feature of Rio's Carnival. Today, they number more than 100 and the groups increase each year. Blocos can be formed by small or large groups of revelers with a distinct title with an often funny pun. (Os blocos RJ, para os solteiros, são um lugar para conhecer e até beijar pessoas, or "The blocos in Rio de Janeiro, for the singles, are places to meet and even kiss people.") They may also note their neighborhood or social status. Before the show, they gather in a square, then parade in sections of the city, often near the beach. Some blocos never leave one street and have a particular place, such as a bar, to attract viewers. Block parades start in January, and may last until the Sunday after Carnival. There occur Blocos parades in nearly every neighborhood throughout the city and metropolitan areas, but the most famous are the ones in Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Lagoa, Jardim Botânico, and in downtown Rio. Organizers often compose their own music themes that are added to the performance and singing of classic "marchinhas" and samba popular songs. "Cordão do bola preta" ("Polka Dot Bloco"), that goes through the heart of Rio's historical center, and "Suvaco do Cristo" (Christ's statue armpit, referring to the angle of the statue seen from the neighborhood), near the Botanical Garden, are some of the most famous groups. Monobloco has become so famous that it plays all year round at parties and small concerts. Samba schools are very large groups of performers, financed by respected organizations (as well as illegal gambling groups), who work year round in preparation for Carnival. Samba Schools perform in the Sambadrome, which runs four entire nights. They are part of an official competition, divided into seven divisions, in which a single school is declared the winner, according to costume, flow, theme, and band music quality and performance. Some samba schools also hold street parties in their neighborhoods, through which they <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9KoEiVKejko/T007yyF205I/AAAAAAAAAZI/4ZNrtPPrDhQ/s987/IMG_8399.JPG "/>parade along with their followers. Carnival time in Rio is a very interesting, but is also the most expensive time to visit Rio. Hotel rooms and other lodgings can be up to 4 times more expensive than the regular rates. There are big crowds at some locations and life is far from ordinary in many parts of town. The carnival in São Paulo takes place in the Sambodrome of Anhembi on the Friday and Saturday night of the week of Carnival, as opposed to Rio’s Carnival, which is held on Sunday and Monday night. Various “samba schools” compete in a huge parade. Each school presents a different theme, which they expose through their costumes, dance, music and the “carros alegóricos” (also known as “trio elétrico”, huge vehicles decorated according to the theme designed specifically for the parade). The schools are responsible for choosing their own themes, which usually revolve around historical happenings or some sort of cultural or political movement. The most famous (and usually the winners) samba schools are: Nenê de Vila Matilde, Gaviões da Fiel, Vai-Vai, Camisa Verde e Branco, Unidos do Peruche, Mocidade Alegre and Rosas de Ouro (which in English translate to, respectively: Baby from Matilde Village; Sparrowhawks of the Faithful; Go-Go; Green and White Shirt; Peruche United; Happy Youth; and Golden Roses). Vai-Vai is the oldest school and has been the First Division champion most times (14 total, including the 2011 championship). It also is the most popular, for it has the most fans. There are several major differences between Carnival in the state of Bahia in Northeastern Brazil and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. The musical styles are different at each carnival; in Bahia there are many rhythms, including samba, samba-reggae, axé, etc., while in Rio there is the multitude of samba styles: the "samba-enredo", the "samba de bloco", the "samba de embalo", the "funk-samba", as well as the famous "marchinhas" played by the "bandas" in the streets. Carnival circuit of the city of Salvador.In the 1880s, the black population commemorated the days of Carnival in its own way, highly marked by Yoruba characteristics, dancing in the streets playing instruments. This form was thought of as "primitive" by the upper-class white elite, and the groups were banned from participating in the official Bahia Carnival, dominated by the local conservative elite. The groups defied the ban and continued to do their dances. By the 1970s, four main types of carnival groups developed in Bahia: Afoxês, Trios Elétricos, "Amerindian" groups, and Blocos Afros. Afoxês use the rhythms of the African inspired religion, Candomblé. They also worship the gods of Candomblé, called orixás. An Electric Trio is characterized by a truck equipped with giant speakers and a platform where musicians play songs of local genres such as axé. People follow the trucks singing and dancing. The "Amerindian" groups were inspired by Western movies from the United States. The groups dress up as native Americans and take on native American names. Blocos Afros, or Afro groups, were influenced by the Black Pride Movement in the United States, independence movements in Africa, and <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a0KNUYHJEOg/T007z_AxlpI/AAAAAAAAAZY/nnovH6vyEPw/s987/IMG_8402.JPG "/>reggae music that denounced racism and oppression. The groups inspired a renewed pride in African heritage. Today, Bahia's carnival consists mostly of Trios Elétricos, but there are still Blocos Afros and Afoxês. Every year, about half a million tourists are attracted to Salvador. It's also possible to watch everything from the Camarotes (ringside seats) spread out along the way, offering more comfort to the visitors. The North East state of Pernambuco has unique Carnivals in its present capital Recife and in its colonial capital Olinda. Their main rhythms are the frevo and the maracatu. Galo da Madrugada is the biggest carnival parade in the world, considering the number of participants, according The Guinness Book of World Records. It means "dawn's rooster" and parades, as the name suggests, in the morning only. Frevo is Pernambucan-style dance with African and acrobatic influences, as it is fast and electrifying, often using an open umbrella and frequent legs and arms movements. Unlike Salvador and Rio, the festivities in Recife, Olinda and Itamaraca do not include group competitions. Instead, groups dance and play instruments side by side. Troças and maracatus, mostly of African influence, begin one week before Carnival and end a week later. Some well-known groups have funny names, such as: Tell me you love me, damn eggymann (with a famous giant dancing doll that leads the group), Crazy Lover, Olinda's Underpants, and The Door. Held 40 days before Lent. Minas also holds some important carnival parades, mainly in the historic cities of Ouro Preto, Mariana and Diamantina. They are held mostly by students' houses, which attract a majority of young people from the neighbor states. There are also other major parades in the region, such as the one in Pompéu. Carnival in Minas Gerais is often characterized by blocos carnavalescos with varying themes and costume styles, almost always accompanied by a brass and drums band. However, Minas Gerais carnival was first influenced by the Rio de Janeiro Carnival (several cities have their own samba schools). Later some Axé groups from Bahia came to play in the state every carnival season. The Carnival of the city of Ouro Preto is very popular with college students in the area. The city has a large proportion of students, who during the year live in places called Repúblicas (a rented house maintained and ruled by themselves). During carnival, the Repúblicas are literally packed with residents and many visitors coming from all over the country. The hills prevent traffic of heavy sound trucks, but don't stop people from feasting all night and day. However, some view the Ouro Preto carnival festivities as a threat to the old and historical harmony of the region. According to one such person: the recent emergence of industry from the surrounding localities, population growth and a spike in street traffic have jeopardized Carnival as older citizens remember it. One cause for alarm is the street carnival of Ouro Preto, which attracts thrill-seeking students from across Brazil. The students crowd the streets while playing loud and arguably disruptive music. Originated in Bahia from the African rhythms, it was brought to Rio de Janeiro around 1920 and is still one of the most popular styles of Brazil, together with Samba-pagode and Samba-reggae (the band Olodum from <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 320px;float:right ; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-53TiYllX--Y/T0070EFXHNI/AAAAAAAAAZg/HLb6RYowTHg/s987/IMG_8403.JPG "/>Salvador da Bahia made samba-reggae famous). From intimate samba-cancões (samba songs) sung in bars to explosive drum parades performed during carnival, samba always evokes a warm and vibrant mood. Samba developed as a distinctive kind of music at the beginning of the 20th century in Rio de Janeiro (then the capital of Brazil). In the 1930s, a group of musicians led by Ismael Silva founded in the neighbourhood of Estácio de Sá the first Samba School, Deixa Falar. They transformed the musical genre to make it fit better the carnival parade. In this decade, the radio spread the genre's popularity all around the country, and with the support of the nationalist dictatorship of Getúlio Vargas, samba became Brazil's "official music." In the following years, samba has developed in several directions, from the gentle samba-canção to the drum orchestras which make the soundtrack of carnival parade. One of these new styles was bossa nova, a musical movement initially spearheaded by young musicians and college students from Rio de Janeiro. It got increasingly popular over time, with the works of João Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim. In the sixties, Brazil was politically divided, and the leftist musicians of bossa nova started to draw attention to the music made in the favelas. Many popular artists were discovered at this time. Names like Cartola, Nelson Cavaquinho, Velha Guarda da Portela, Zé Keti, and Clementina de Jesus recorded their first albums. In the seventies, the samba got back to radio. Composers and singers like Martinho da Vila, Clara Nunes and Beth Carvalho dominated the hit parade. In the beginning of the eighties, after having been sent to the underground due to styles like disco and Brazilian rock, Samba reappeared in the media with a musical movement created in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. It was the pagode, a renewed samba, with new instruments, like the banjo and the tantan, and a new language, more popular, filled with slang. The most popular names were Zeca Pagodinho, Almir Guineto, Grupo Fundo de Quintal, Jorge Aragão, and Jovelina Pérola Negra. Various samba schools have been founded throughout Brazil. A samba school combines the dancing and party fun of a night club with the gathering place of a social club and the community feeling of a volunteer group. During the spectacular Rio Carnival famous samba schools parade in the Sambódromo.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186387273214322590.post-76402750636700811182012-03-08T22:06:00.002+00:002012-03-09T22:23:26.176+00:00<table bgcolor="#800000" width=80% height="35" border="0"><tr border="0"><td border="0"><font style="float:center" size="6" color="White"><center><b>Tarantula</b></center></font></td></tr></table><table bgcolor="#008080" width=80% height="7"><tr border="0"><td border="0"></td></tr></table><table width=80%><tr><td><table width=100%><tr><td>Tarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Although some members of the same suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance, this article only describes members of Theraphosidae. Some genera of tarantulas hunt prey primarily in trees; others hunt on or near the ground. All tarantulas can produce silk—while arboreal species will typically reside in a silken "tube tent", terrestrial species will line their burrows with silk to stabilize the burrow wall and facilitate climbing up and down. Tarantulas mainly eat insects and other arthropods, using ambush as their primary method of prey capture. The biggest tarantulas can kill animals as large as lizards, mice, and birds.They can be found in the south and west parts of the USA, Central America, and throughout South America to the southern parts of Chile, Argentina. Tarantulas can also be found throughout Africa, large parts of Asia and all over Australia. In Europe, there are some species in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, and in Cyprus. Most tarantulas are harmless to humans, and some species are popular in the exotic pet trade. All tarantulas are venomous, but only some species have venom that, while not known to have ever produced human fatalities, can produce extreme discomfort over a period of several days. Like all arthropods, the tarantula is an invertebrate that relies on an exoskeleton for muscular support. A tarantula’s body consists of two main parts, the prosoma (cephalothorax) and the opisthosoma (abdomen). The prosoma and opisthosoma are connected by the pedicle, or what is often called the pregenital somite. This waist-like connecting piece is actually part of the prosoma and allows the opisthosoma to move in a wide range of motion relative to the prosoma.</td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS6R7UiBCco/T006tMSMINI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaWz09OeeYU/s640/DSC_0056%2520-%2520Copy.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "320"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "240"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QS6R7UiBCco/T006tMSMINI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/QaWz09OeeYU/s640/DSC_0056%2520-%2520Copy.JPG "/></a></td><td><table><tr><td><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QrBf5PLXvpU/T0062tTCrwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/CX1vPmTcqaU/s720/DSC_0119.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-QrBf5PLXvpU/T0062tTCrwI/AAAAAAAAAH8/CX1vPmTcqaU/s720/DSC_0119.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-psJQKgEhsfM/T006tfvOCtI/AAAAAAAAAFc/TtsRG2oXxq4/s912/DSC_0053.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-psJQKgEhsfM/T006tfvOCtI/AAAAAAAAAFc/TtsRG2oXxq4/s912/DSC_0053.JPG "/></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CLaeMjSNlx0/T0062s2n5fI/AAAAAAAAAIA/LDtKS8b1b2g/s720/DSC_0121.JPG"/><img MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0px; WIDTH= "100"; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT= "77"; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CLaeMjSNlx0/T0062s2n5fI/AAAAAAAAAIA/LDtKS8b1b2g/s720/DSC_0121.JPG "/></a></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><!-- adsense --><table width=80%> <tr><td>The sizes range from as small as a fingernail to as big as a dinner plate. Depending on the species, the body length of tarantulas ranges from 2.5 to 10 centimetres (1 to 4 in), with 8–30-centimetre (3–12 in) leg spans. Leg span is determined by measuring from the tip of the back leg to the tip of the front leg on the opposite side. The largest species of tarantula can weigh over 85 grams (3 oz). The largest of all, the Goliath Birdeater (Theraphosa blondi) from Venezuela and Brazil, has been reported to have a weight of 150 grams (5.3 oz) and a leg-span of up to 30 centimetres (12 in), males being the longer and females greater in girth. T. apophysis (the Pinkfoot Goliath) was described 187 years after the Goliath Birdeater; <img style="MARGIN: 0px 5px 0px 0px; WIDTH: 400px;float:left ; HEIGHT: 520px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-tw1wg2HbZdc/T00789wdtkI/AAAAAAAAAcY/MJrwxY95q24/s640/IMG_8443.JPG"/>therefore its characteristics are not as well attested.T. blondi is generally thought to be the heaviest tarantula, and T. apophysis to have the greatest leg span. Two other species, Lasiodora parahybana (the Brazilian Salmon Birdeater) and L. klugi, rival the size of the two Goliath spiders. The majority of North American tarantulas are brown. Elsewhere have been found species colored cobalt blue (Haplopelma lividum), black with white stripes (Aphonopelma seemanni), yellow leg markings (Eupalaestrus campestratus), metallic blue legs with vibrant orange abdomen and greenbottle blue (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens). Their natural habitats include savanna, grasslands such as the pampas, rainforests, deserts, scrubland, mountains, and cloud forests. They are generally classed among the terrestrial types. They are burrowers that live in the ground. Tarantulas are becoming increasingly popular as pets and are readily available in captivity. The eight legs, the two chelicerae with their fangs, and the pedipalps are attached to the prosoma. The chelicerae are two double segment appendages that are located just below the eyes and directly forward of the mouth. The chelicerae contain the venom glands that vent through the fangs. The fangs are hollow extensions of the chelicerae that inject venom into prey or animals that the tarantula bites in defense, and they are also used to masticate. These fangs are articulated so that they can extend downward and outward in preparation to bite or can fold back toward the chelicerae as a pocket knife blade folds back into its handle. The chelicerae of a tarantula completely contain the venom glands and the muscles that surround them, and can cause the venom to be forcefully injected into prey. The pedipalpi are two six-segment appendages connected to the thorax near the mouth and protruding on either side of both chelicerae. In most species of tarantula, the pedipalpi contain sharp jagged plates used to cut and crush food often called the coxae or maxillae. As with other spiders, the terminal portion of the pedipalpi of males function as part of its reproductive system. Male spiders spin a silken platform (sperm web) on the ground onto which they release semen from glands in their opistoma. Then they insert their pedipalps into the semen, absorb the semen into the pedipalps, and later insert the pedipalps (one at a time) into the reproductive organ of the female, which is located in her abdomen. The terminal segments of the pedipalps of male tarantulas are moderately larger in circumference than those of a female tarantula. Male tarantulas have special spinnerets surrounding the genital opening. Silk for the sperm web of the tarantula is exuded from these special spinnerets. A tarantula has four pairs of legs and two additional pairs of appendages. Each leg has seven segments which, from the prosoma out, are: coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, tarsus and pretarsus, and claw. Two or three retractable claws are at the end of each leg. These claws are used to grip surfaces for climbing. Also on the end of each leg, surrounding the claws, is a group of hairs. These hairs, called the scopula, help the tarantula to grip better when climbing surfaces like glass. The fifth pair are the pedipalps which aid in feeling, gripping prey, and mating in the case of a mature male. The sixth pair of appendages are the chelicerae and their attached fangs. When walking, a tarantula's first and third leg on one side move at the same time as the second and fourth legs on the other side of his body. The muscles in a tarantula's legs cause the legs to bend at the joints, but to extend a leg, the tarantula increases the pressure of blood entering the leg. Tarantulas, like almost all other spiders, have their primary spinnerets at the end of the opisthosoma. Unlike the typical spiders that on average have six, tarantulas have two or four spinnerets. Spinnerets are flexible tubelike structures from which the spider exudes its silk. The tip of each spinneret is called the spinning field. Each spinning field is covered by as many as one hundred spinning tubes through which silk is exuded. This silk hardens on contact with the air to become a threadlike substance. The tarantula's mouth is located under its chelicerae on the lower front part of its prosoma. The mouth is a short straw-shaped opening that can only suck, meaning that anything taken into it must be in liquid form. Prey with large amounts of solid parts, such as mice, must be crushed and ground up or predigested, which is accomplished by coating the prey with digestive juices that are secreted from openings in the chelicerae. The tarantula's digestive organ (stomach) is a tube that runs the length of its body. In the prosoma, this tube is wider and forms the sucking stomach. When the sucking stomach's powerful muscles contract, the stomach is increased in cross-section, creating a strong sucking action that permits the tarantula to suck its liquefied prey up through the mouth and into the intestines. Once the liquefied food enters the intestines, it is broken down into particles small enough to pass through the intestine walls into the hemolymph (blood stream) where it is distributed throughout the body. After feeding, the leftovers are formed into a small ball by the tarantula and thrown away. In a terrarium, they often put them into the same corner. As these balls are perfect hosts for molds and parasites, they must be removed regularly. A tarantula's central nervous system (brain) is located in the bottom of the inner prosoma. A tarantula perceives its surroundings primarily via sensory organs called setae (hairs or spines). Although a tarantula has eyes, touch is its keenest sense, and in hunting it primarily depends on vibrations given off by the movements of its prey. A tarantula's setae are very sensitive organs and are used to sense chemical signatures, vibrations, wind direction, and possibly even sound. Tarantulas are also very responsive to the presence of certain chemicals such as pheromones. Regardless of their fearsome reputation, tarantulas are themselves an object of predation, the most specialized of these predators are large members of the wasp family Pompilidae. In the Americas, these insects are termed "tarantula hawks", being parasitoids of tarantulas. The largest tarantula hawks, such as those in the genus Pepsis, will track, attack and kill large tarantulas. They use olfaction to find the lair of a tarantula. The wasp must deliver a sting to the underside of the spider's cephalothorax, exploiting the thin membrane between the basal leg segments. This paralyzes the spider and the wasp then drags it back into its burrow before depositing an egg on the prey's abdomen. The wasp then seals the spider in its burrow and flies off to search for more hosts. The wasp larva hatches and feeds on the spider's non-essential parts and, as it approaches pupation, it consumes the remainder. In addition to more mundane cuisine, tarantulas are considered a delicacy in certain cultures (e.g. Venezuela and Cambodia). They are usually roasted over an open fire to remove the hair and then eaten. Besides the normal "hairs" covering the body, some tarantulas also have a dense covering of irritating hairs called urticating hairs, on the opisthosoma, that they sometimes use as protection against enemies. These hairs are present on new-world species but not on specimens from the Old World. Urticating hairs are usually kicked off the abdomen by the tarantula, but it is noteworthy that some may simply rub the abdomen against the target, such is so with the Avicularia genera. These fine hairs are barbed and serve to irritate. They can be lethal to small animals such as rodents. Some people are extremely sensitive to these hairs, and develop serious itching and rashes at the site. Exposure of the eyes and respiratory system to urticating hairs should be strictly avoided. Species with urticating hairs can kick these hairs off: they are flicked into the air at a target using their back pairs of legs. Tarantulas also use these hairs for other purposes such as to mark territory or to line their shelters (the latter such practice may discourage flies from feeding on the spiderlings). Urticating hairs do not grow back, but are replaced with each moult. The intensity, amount, and flotation of the hairs depends on the species of tarantula. Many owners of Goliath Birdeaters (T. blondi) claim that theraphosids have the worst urticating hairs. To predators and other kinds of enemies, these hairs can range from being lethal to simply being a deterrent. With humans, they can cause irritation to eyes, nose, and skin, and more dangerously, the lungs and airways, if inhaled. The symptoms range from species to species, from person to person, from a burning itch to a minor rash. In some cases, tarantula hairs have caused permanent damage to human eyes. Some setae are used to stridulate, which makes a hissing sound. These hairs are usually found on the chelicerae. Stridulation seems to be more common in old-world species. While no fatalities have been attributed to tarantula bites, sometimes spider bites are regarded as the probable source of infections. Medical advice regarding prophylaxis may be helpful in that regard. In addition, there is considerable anecdotal evidence indicating that the venoms of some old-world species can produce symptoms so severe that medical treatment would be appropriate. Medical intervention is also regarded as appropriate when symptoms such as breathing difficulty or chest pain develop, since these conditions may indicate an anaphylactic reaction. As with bee stings, allergic reactions to protein fractions may be many times more dangerous than the direct toxic effects of the venom. Urticating hairs may cause medical problems for humans should they enter the eyes or the respiratory system. Unless one inhales air heavily laden with these hairs or rubs them into one's eyes, they are rarely a problem. Some individuals are more sensitive to skin contact with these spines and learn to avoid them when cleaning cages or otherwise coming into potential contact with them.</td></tr></table><br><br><table bgcolor="#5CB3FF" width=80% height="5"><tr><td></td></tr></table><br><font size="4"><b>See Also:</b></font><table width=80%><tr><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/manaus-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-introduction.html">Manaus</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/maps-of-british-columbia-see-also.html">Map</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-to-do-in-british-columbia-there.html">Things to do</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/landmarks-in-british-columbia-peak-2.html">Landmarks</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/history-of-vancouver-discovery-of-stone.html">History</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/useful-information-for-british-colombia.html">Useful Info</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/02/weather-in-british-columbia-as-result.html">Weather</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/rubber-tree-hevea-brasiliensis-para.html">Rubber Tree</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-theatre-amazon-theatre-teatro.html">Amazon Theatre</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/native-brazilians-indigenous-indigenous.html">Native Brazilian / Indegenous</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/stick-insect-phasmatodea-sometimes.html">Stick Insect</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/survival-night-in-amazonas-jungle-while.html">Survival in the Amazon Jungle</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/tarantula-tarantulas-comprise-group-of.html">Tarantula</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/brazilian-carnaval-carnaval-do-brazil.html">Brazilian Carnaval</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/caiman-alligator-cocodrile-carnival-of.html">Caiman / Alligator</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/termites-termites-are-group-of-eusocial.html">Termites</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazon-river-dolphins-pink-dolphins.html">Amazon River Dolphins / Pink Dolphins</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/piranha-piranha-or-pirana-is-member-of.html">Piranha</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/spider-spiders-are-air-breathing.html">Spiders</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/water-lilies-water-lilies-or.html">Water Lilies</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/meeting-of-waters-meeting-of-waters-is.html">Meeting of the Waters</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-river-amazon-river-amazon.html">Amazon River / Amazonas Rives</a></td><td><a href="http://goplanettravel.blogspot.com/2012/03/amazonas-jungle-amazon-jungle-amazon.html">Amazon Jungle / Amazonas Jungle</a></td></tr></table>Travelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10042648231879188389noreply@blogger.com0