Serra do Navio (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈsɛʁɐ du naˈviw]), (Mountain range of the Ship) is a municipality located in the center of the state of Amapá in Brazil. Its population is 5,488 (2020 est.)[1] and its area is 7,713 km².[2] In the 1947, Manganese was discovered in the area.[3] Serra do Navio[4] was built as a planned city to house the workers.[3] On 22 June 1993, the capital of the municipality was changed from Água Branca do Amapari to Serra do Novio.[4][5]

Serra do Navio
Serra do Navio in 1965
Serra do Navio in 1965
Flag of Serra do Navio
Coat of arms of Serra do Navio
Location in Amapá state
Location in Amapá state
Serra do Navio is located in Brazil
Serra do Navio
Serra do Navio
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 0°53′45″N 52°0′7″W / 0.89583°N 52.00194°W / 0.89583; -52.00194
CountryBrazil
RegionNorth
StateAmapá
Government
 • MayorElson Belo Lobato (AVANTE)
Area
 • Total
7,713 km2 (2,978 sq mi)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,488
 • Density0.71/km2 (1.8/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)

History

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In the 1947, Manganese was discovered in the area. ICOMI was given the concession to exploit the mines, however the scale of the operation was such, that Bethlehem Steel was given a 49% stake in 1950. The Amapá Railway, and two towns for the workers were constructed: Serra do Navio and Vila Amazonas near Santana where a harbour was built.[3] Serra do Navio was built according to North-American standards and was considered a model town.[6]

During the 1980s, the mine produced about 1,000,000 tons of ore,[7] however Bethlehem Steel wanted to end the cooperation, because the deposits were being exhausted. The contract was originally set to end in 2003, however in 1996, Bethlehem Steel decided to end the contract.[3]

 

The closing of the main mine, led to a steep decrease in population, and the appearance of a ghost town. Smaller mines still operate in the region. Other economic activities include agriculture, and forestry.[6]

Serra do Navio is located on the BR-210 highway.[6] The municipality is subdivided in two districts: The town of Serra do Navio and Cachaço.[8]

Geography

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Nature

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The municipality contains 7.83% of the 2,369,400 hectares (5,855,000 acres) Amapá State Forest, a sustainable use conservation unit established in 2006.[9]

Climate

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Climate data for Serra do Navio (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8)
29.5
(85.1)
30.0
(86.0)
30.1
(86.2)
29.8
(85.6)
30.2
(86.4)
30.8
(87.4)
31.4
(88.5)
32.2
(90.0)
32.5
(90.5)
32.1
(89.8)
30.8
(87.4)
30.8
(87.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 21.3
(70.3)
21.7
(71.1)
21.6
(70.9)
21.6
(70.9)
21.8
(71.2)
21.4
(70.5)
21.1
(70.0)
21.4
(70.5)
21.6
(70.9)
21.6
(70.9)
21.4
(70.5)
21.7
(71.1)
21.5
(70.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 238.4
(9.39)
311.2
(12.25)
304.6
(11.99)
273.0
(10.75)
282.5
(11.12)
206.0
(8.11)
168.1
(6.62)
135.1
(5.32)
81.6
(3.21)
78.6
(3.09)
96.4
(3.80)
167.3
(6.59)
2,342.8
(92.24)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 22 21 22 22 24 20 18 15 10 9 11 17 211
Mean monthly sunshine hours 113.2 92.7 96.2 97.7 121.3 144.0 185.9 211.7 221.0 234.7 194.3 151.7 1,864.4
Source: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia[10]

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ IBGE 2020
  2. ^ "IBGE | Cidades | Amapá | Serra do Navio". cidades.ibge.gov.br. Retrieved 2016-05-17.
  3. ^ a b c d "Exploração de manganês pela ICOMI: passivo ambiental para a população de Serra do Navio". Conflictos Mineros (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Serra do Navio". IBGE (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  5. ^ ""Podemos nunca mais ouvir o apito do trem entrando nas matas de Serra do Navio"". Diário do Amapá (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Serra do Navio". Government of Amapá (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Brazil". Mining Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Serra do Navio". IBGE (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. ^ FES do Amapá (in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental, retrieved 2016-07-06
  10. ^ "Normais Climatológicas Do Brasil 1981–2010" (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Bio". Fernanda Takai (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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