Marajó

Lore & Background

Marajó is a large coastal island in Pará, Brazil, and the largest of the Marajó Archipelago. It is separated from the mainland by Marajó Bay, the Pará River, several smaller rivers, and the Atlantic Ocean. The island lies just south of the Equator, with its northern coast running almost parallel to it. It is the second-largest island in South America and the 35th largest in the world, comparable in size to Switzerland. The island is almost entirely flat, divided into eastern savanna plains at slightly higher elevation and western rainforest near sea level. The eastern side hosts large fazendas with animal husbandry, including a population of about 450,000 domesticated water buffalo, which are technically invasive. The western side features várzea forests and small farms producing lumber and açaí palm. Marajó is crossed by numerous rivers that serve as the principal mode of transport. During the rainy season, much of the island becomes a large lake due to flooding, and many settlements are built on stilts. The island is known for the pororoca, a tidal bore phenomenon creating large waves, making it a tourist destination for surfing. From approximately 400 BC to 1600 AD, it was home to the advanced Marajoara culture, which may have numbered over 100,000 people at its peak.

Reader's Guide

Marajó Island is the site of the Marajoara culture, an advanced pre-Cabraline society that flourished from approximately 400 BC to 1600 AD and may have numbered over 100,000 people at its peak. The island is the largest in the Marajó Archipelago and the second-largest in South America, comparable in size to Switzerland. Its geography is defined by flat terrain: the eastern side features savanna plains at a slightly higher elevation, while the western side is low-lying rainforest. The island is almost entirely flooded during the rainy season, when much of it becomes a large lake, and its hydrology is dominated by numerous rivers that serve as the main transport routes. This seasonal flooding forces many settlements, such as Afuá, to be built on stilts. Ecologically, Marajó lies within the Marajó várzea ecoregion, characterized by seasonally flooded forests. The island is notably home to approximately 450,000 domesticated water buffalo, an invasive species that outnumbers the human population. It is also known for the pororoca, a tidal bore phenomenon that creates large waves, attracting tourists and surfers. The Marajó Archipelago Environmental Protection Area, established in 1989, covers the region. Key towns include Soure, Salvaterra, and the largest city, Breves, which offer basic tourist infrastructure and are accessible by ferry from Belém.

Did You Know?

• Marajó is the second-largest island in South America and the 35th largest in the world.
• The pororoca is a tidal bore that can create waves up to 4 meters high and is a tourist attraction for surfing.