Why Cruzeiro do Sul
Cruzeiro do Sul is the second-largest city in Acre, a state in western Brazil. Situated along the Juruá River, the city serves as a regional trading hub. Its municipality spans a border with the state of Amazonas to the north and the country of Peru to the south, while sharing local boundaries with Porto Walter, Rodrigues Alves, Tarauacá, and Mâncio Lima.
The city was established on September 28, 1904, by Marshal Gregório Thaumaturgo de Azevedo. He selected the date to match the anniversary of the Law of the Free Womb, a key step in ending slavery in Brazil. The founder was also a key member of the Fraternidade Acreana Masonic Lodge, an organization central to the movement for Acrean autonomy and local development. During the 20th-century rubber boom, the region grew rapidly, drawing various explorers and international immigrants, including German arrivals.
Much of the area's historical economy centered on the extraction and export of natural rubber. In addition to rubber, agriculture plays a supporting economic role through the cultivation of cassava, coffee, and rice. Cultural influences from early European settlers remain visible, notably in the Cathedral Nossa Senhora da Glória. The local parish was initiated by Spiritan priests in 1915, but German priests took over the Upper Juruá territory in 1930. Construction on the present cathedral started in 1957 and concluded in 1965, featuring a handcrafted roof structure modeled after a church in Cologne, Germany.
Visitors to the municipality can explore natural surroundings, as Cruzeiro do Sul encompasses nearly a quarter of the 846,633-hectare Serra do Divisor National Park, which was established in 1989. The urban area itself covers approximately 24.8 square kilometers.
Cruzeiro do Sul features a tropical Amazonian climate characterized by warm, highly humid conditions, with an annual average temperature of 25.6 °C (78.1 °F). Highs consistently exceed 30 °C (86 °F) throughout the year, though rare cold spells can occasionally drop temperatures drastically. The wet season spans from October to April, peaking in March, while the drier period runs from June to September, with July being the driest and sunniest month. Overall sunshine remains relatively low year-round. Travelers can access the city via the Cruzeiro do Sul International Airport or by driving approximately 630 kilometers from Rio Branco along highway BR-364.
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