Why Marajó
Marajó is a massive coastal island located in the state of Pará, Brazil, positioned at the mouth of the Amazon River just south of the Equator. Covering approximately 40,100 square kilometers, it is the second-largest island in South America and the 35th largest globally, making its land area comparable to that of Switzerland. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Marajó Bay, and various river channels, Marajó serves as the primary landmass within the broader Marajó Archipelago.
The topography of Marajó is almost entirely flat and divided into distinct ecological zones. The eastern portion consists of slightly elevated savanna plains reaching roughly six meters above sea level, dominated by large ranches where domesticated water buffalo are raised. These animals outnumber the human population, with herds totaling around 450,000. In contrast, the western half lies near sea level and is covered in tidally flooded rainforests that yield timber and açaí palms. To the north, palm swamps filled with buriti trees flood significantly during rainy periods.
Drawn across the island are numerous rivers and lakes, including Lake Guajará and Lake Arari, the latter of which shrinks by eighty percent during dry spells. Heavy seasonal rainfall and high river levels cause extensive interior flooding, turning much of the landscape into a vast temporary lake. To adapt to changing water levels, local settlements build houses on stilts called palafitas. This architectural feature is especially prominent in Afuá, where stilt dwellings and reliance on boat transport have earned it the nickname "The Venice of Marajó."
Travelers to Marajó frequently visit the southeastern towns of Soure, Salvaterra, and Breves, which offer basic visitor infrastructure alongside spacious, lightly populated beaches. Soure functions as a main entry point to the island via a ferry connection operating from Belém. Beyond its coastal towns, the island attracts interest for the pororoca, a powerful tidal bore that creates waves up to four meters high in the surrounding river channels, drawing surfers to the phenomenon.
Historically, Marajó was home to the pre-Cabraline Marajoara culture, an advanced society that inhabited the area from roughly 400 BC until 1600 AD. At its peak, this population exceeded 100,000 people who engaged in agriculture and built major public works. European arrival in the sixteenth century brought Eurasian infectious diseases that killed ninety percent of the native inhabitants. Uniquely, the island later recorded no documented cases during the global Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918–1919. Today, the region forms part of the Marajó Archipelago Environmental Protection Area, established in 1989 to promote sustainable conservation.
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