Macapá, Capital city in Amapá state, Brazil
Macapá is a state capital in northern Brazil, positioned where the Amazon River meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city spreads across a low plateau that slopes gently toward the river, with streets organized in a grid pattern near the historic center.
Portuguese settlers founded the settlement in the 18th century as a military outpost protecting the Amazon mouth. The fortress took two decades to complete and marked the northern boundary of Portuguese control in South America.
The name comes from a Tupi term meaning 'place of many bacaba palms', trees still found across neighborhoods today. Residents gather at riverside markets where vendors sell açaí bowls and regional fish prepared with manioc flour.
The airport connects the city with other Brazilian regions through daily flights to Belém and Brasília. Most points of interest sit within walking distance in the compact historic center near the riverfront.
The equator passes through town and is marked by a monument with a stadium where visitors can stand in both hemispheres at once. The warm weather remains steady year-round, typical for equatorial regions.
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