Pau do Presidente, Historical monument at Transamazonian Highway km 4, Altamira, Brazil
Pau do Presidente is a monument along the Trans-Amazonian Highway made from three masts carved from a single Brazil nut tree trunk. The structure rises approximately 10 meters and stands as a physical statement built from Amazonian materials.
The monument was unveiled by President Emilio Garrastazu Medici in 1972 to mark completion of the first section of the Trans-Amazonian Highway. Its construction reflected the military government's agenda to develop and integrate the Amazon region.
The three masts stand for the three branches of the Brazilian Republic government and express the political order that existed during military rule. They embody how state power was understood and presented to the public at that time.
The monument sits directly on the BR-230 federal highway approximately 4 kilometers from Altamira toward Maraba. Its roadside location makes it straightforward to visit while traveling along the main route through the region.
The Brazil nut tree used for the monument was felled in 1970, creating a direct link between the structure and Amazonian forest resources. This aged wood embodies the sacrifice of rainforest material to construct a symbol of national progress.
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