Demonym(s) Itamaracaense Area 66.68 km² Population 24,413 (2014) | Founded December 31, 1958 Time zone BRT (UTC-3) Elevation 3 m Local time Friday 7:13 PM | |
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Weather 27°C, Wind SE at 16 km/h, 82% Humidity Points of interest Fort Orange, Praia do Sossego, Praia Forno da Cal, Enseada dos Golfinhos, Pontal da Ilha | ||
Ilha de Itamaracá is an island and municipality in Pernambuco, Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean. Itamaracá means "stone shaker" in Tupi, from the words itá ("stone") and mbara'ká ("shaker"). It is separated from the mainland by the Canal de Santa Cruz, a salt water channel both mouths of which are on the Atlantic Ocean.
Contents
- Map of Ilha de ItamaracC3A1 Baixa Verde ItamaracC3A1 State of Pernambuco Brazil
- Geography
- History
- Tourist attractions
- Beaches
- Economy
- Economic indicators
- Penal Facilities
- References
Map of Ilha de Itamarac%C3%A1 - Baixa Verde, Itamarac%C3%A1 - State of Pernambuco, Brazil
Itamaracá has a total area of 66.68 square kilometres (25.75 sq mi) and had an estimated population of 24,413 inhabitants in 2014 according to IBGE. It is located in the metropolitan area of Recife, the capital city of Pernambuco state. The main activities of the population are fishing and tourism. Recife is located about 38 kilometres (24 mi) to the south whereas Olinda, another important town of Pernambuco and also UNESCO World Heritage, is 30 kilometres (19 mi) to the south.
Geography
History
In the early 1500s before Portuguese colonization, the island was the site of a trading post for furs and other native goods, and transhipment depot for Brazilwood. The island at that time was occupied by various loosely related tribes of Tupi-Guarani native South American peoples. Later, the island became part of the Captaincy of Itamaracá (most of which today is occupied by the state of Paraiba) which took its name from the island, established by King John III of Portugal in 1534. The chief economic activity in the following century and a half was sugar cane processing, in engenhos (sugar mills). While Itamaracá was administratively separate, it operated as a political and economic subdivision of Pernambuco. With the rise of the gold economy in the late 17th century, Itamaracá became economically isolated.
Itamaracá is renowned for having one of the first, if not the first, Jewish community in the Americas. In the Yosef Goldman Collection, there is a book titled Sefer Shefa Tal, a kabbalistic volume that was printed in Hanau, Germany, in 1612. It contains a handwritten statement of ownership by Rabbi Jacob Lagarto of a congregation in Tamarica, Brazil. Rabbi Lagarto came to Brazil as a young man and was the author of a volume of aphorisms (copies of which, evidently, no longer exist). The book is the only known physical link to this Jewish community, since there are no other known artifacts from it.
Tourist attractions
Beaches
Has calm waters, mangue vegetation, suitable for swimming. It is located in the intersection between Catuama River and Santa Cruz channel.
Has weak waves, large rocks, and not depth waters.
Considered dangerous because of the estuary of Jaguaribe River. Also, shows area of advanced coastal erosion.
Located in the urban area of the municipality, is two kilometers long and has several bars and restaurants. Every year, it holds a fishing festival of garfishes. Its major attraction is the Lady Lia, a well known singer of Ciranda, a folklore musical style. It has a small strip of land when at high tide. There lies the cross of Our Lady of Pilar.
Its name means four corners. It's an urban beach and when at high tides, it just has small sand strip.
Urban beach with a small strip of land when at high tide. There is a cross of Our Lady of Pilar.
Has quiet waters and fine sands. Also has the Itamaraca Yacht club and numerous summer houses.
Its name means low green. It's got clear sand, coconut trees vegetation, and summer and fishermen's houses.
Area of occurrence of coastal erosion, has now containment dykes.
Fort Orange in English, has its name due to the presence of a Dutch fort built in 1631 and re-built by Portugueses in 1654. It is the site/point where boats and rafts cross the Jaguaribe River to the Coroa do Avião beach islet. Also, it has an Ibama center of sea mammals (Trichechus manatus) for their lives preservation and studies. It's got calm waters and many bars.
Its name means "dolphins bay". It has mangal vegetation and some sands banks. It's suitable for swimming. Unlike what the name suggests, there are no dolphins in this area. In Pernambuco, just Fernando de Noronha is visited by these animals.
It has extensive sand banks, reefs and tide pools.
Its name means "tranquility". It has mangrove vegetation, sand banks and natural pools. The Jaguaribe River estuary flows there.
Economy
The main economic activities in Itamaraca are based in tourism, primary sector especially artisanal fishing and local commerce.
Economic indicators
Economy by Sector 2006
Penal Facilities
Itamaraca island has a judicial asylum, a maximum security prison and a semi-open facility.