Cairu, Coastal municipality in Bahia, Brazil
Cairu is a coastal municipality in Bahia, Brazil, comprising three main islands: Cairu, Tinharé, and Boipeba. These islands are connected by boat and form a network of settlements, beaches, and mangrove areas along the Atlantic coast.
Portuguese settlers founded the settlement in 1608 as a colonial trading post. The islands became known for producing manioc flour and timber, which sustained the local economy for centuries.
The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, built in the upper town, displays Portuguese colonial architecture with sandstone windows. This building reflects how the islands' inhabitants organized their spiritual and social life during the colonial period.
The islands are accessible by air through airports on nearby Morro de São Paulo and Boipeba. Boats serve as the main transportation between the islands and are essential for getting around the municipality.
The municipality sent significant funds annually for thirty years to help rebuild Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. This financial commitment reveals how important this remote island settlement had become to the Portuguese empire.
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