Amapá

During the colonial era from 1637 to 1654 the Amapá region was merged into the Captaincy of Pará, this was the Captaincy of Cabo de Norte.[4] In the early colonial period the Amapá region was a rich source of lumber, resins, annatto, vegetable oils, and salted fish, all of which were exported to Europe. The French established sugarcane plantations in this period.

São José de Macapá

With the discovery of mineral deposits the Amapá region was invaded by the English and Dutch, who were ultimately repelled by the Portuguese.[4] The Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 established the boundaries between the colony of Brazil and French Guiana, but these were not respected by the French. A fort was constructed at São José de Macapá, in present-day Macapá, as a base of Portuguese power in the region.[4] In the 18th century, France retook control of the area. This international dispute continued until 1900.

With the discovery of gold and the increasing value of rubber on the international market during the 19th century, outsider population increased in Amapá and the territorial dispute with France was brought to a head. French settlers established the State of Counani (1886–1891). The gold rush however brought in Brazilian interests who gained control of the territory, which led to clashes with the French. The dispute was sent for arbitration and on 1 December 1900, the Arbitration Commission of Geneva awarded possession of the territory to Brazil. It was incorporated into the state of Pará, with the joint name of Araguari (named for the river of the same name). It became the federal territory of Amapá in 1943.

The discovery of rich manganese deposits in Serra do Navio in 1945 revolutionized the local economy. Manganese remains the largest source of revenue in the state.[4] Amapá did not achieve statehood until 5 October 1988, at the time of the promulgation of the new Brazilian Constitution.

• 
  Amapá National Forest
• 
  Karupina mountain in the Uaçá Indigenous Territory, Amapá, Brazil.

The State of Amapá possesses the lowest rate of loss of its original vegetation for any Brazilian state, estimated at only 2%. Most of the Amapá territory is covered with rainforest, while the remaining areas are covered with savannah and plains. On the Amapá coast, almost intact beaches mix with swamps, creating the largest representation of this biome in Brazil. This mixture of salt and fresh water is perfect for the food chain reproduction for several animal species. Pollution, however, is now a chronic problem in the state of Amapá. Mercury, which is used in the extraction of gold, is widely found in water sources and sewage systems in the population centers of Amapá.[4]

Climate

Köppen map for Amapá

Most of Amapá has a Tropical monsoon climate, a tropical climate with a short dry season and heavy rainfall for the majority of the year. In the Köppen climate classification, it is classified under the letters Am. Tropical rainforest is the natural vegetation, and also provides the other climate type located in the state.

According to the IBGE of 2010, there were 668,689 people residing in the state, with a population density of 4.3/km². The population of Amapá is highly urbanized, with 93.7% of the population residing primarily in Macapá and Santana.[9] Population growth: 5.7% (1991–2000); Houses: 144,000 (2006).

During the 2010 census, 65% identified as Pardo (multiracial), 24% as White Brazilians, 8.7% as Black Brazilians and 1.1% as Indigenous. The remaining 1.2% are Asians and undeclared.[10]

The majority of the residents of Amapá live in poverty. According to the Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) 36.56% of the population live on only R$79 per month, which the foundation considers below a decent standard of living.[4]

Municipalities

Largest cities or towns in Amapá (2010 census by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics)[11]
	Rank		Mesoregion	Pop.	Rank		Mesoregion	Pop.
Macapá Santana	1	Macapá	Sul	407,023	11	Amapá	Norte	8,142	Laranjal do Jari Oiapoque
	2	Santana	Sul	102,860	12	Ferreira Gomes	Sul	5,974
	3	Laranjal do Jari	Sul	40,819	13	Cutias	Sul	4,805
	4	Oiapoque	Norte	21,094	14	Serra do Navio	Sul	4,463
	5	Mazagão	Sul	17,419	15	Itaubal	Sul	4,370
	6	Porto Grande	Sul	17,252	16	Pracuuba	Norte	3,909
	7	Tartarugalzinho	Norte	12,981
	8	Vitória do Jari	Sul	12,725
	9	Pedra Branca do Amapari	Sul	11,291
	10	Calçoene	Norte	9,174

Indigenous population

Celebration of Indian Day in Manga

The Amerindians tribes in Amapá are located in the north near the Oiapoque River, and in the east in the Wayampi Indigenous Territory. All the indigenous territories in Amapá have been demarcated. The tribes living in Amapá are the Galibi do Oiapoque, the Karipuna do Amapá, the Palikur, the Wayampi and the Galibi Marwono.[12]

The region around the Amazon River used to support a large population of Amerindians during the pre-Columbian era.[13] The policy of the Portuguese monarchy was to engage in war in order to clear them from the land.[14] The Cabanagem Revolt in the 1830s, resulted in the final dispersal of the Amerindians along the Amazon.[15]

The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 87.6%, followed by the industrial sector at 7.8%. Agriculture represents 4.6% of GDP (2004). Amapá exports: wood 75.5%, ores 18.7%, heart of palm 5.5% (2002). The state, which has 0.4% of the Brazilian population, is responsible for only 0.22% of the Brazilian GDP.[16][17][18][19]

The flag was adopted by Decree No. 8 of 23 April 1984. The blue represents the sky over Amapá and justice, the green represents the native rainforest, and the yellow represents the Union and its natural resources. The black stands for the deceased who worked for the state, and the white for the will of the state to live in peace and stability. The symbol on the hoist-side represents the Fortress of São José, out of which the state capital grew.[31]

Before 1984, the state had a red-white-red flag, based on the flag of Pará, and similar to the flag of Peru.[32]

• Brazil
• Calçoene - Amapá town, site of pre-colonial observatory

• (in Portuguese) Official Website