Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, Sustainable development reserve in Amazonas, Brazil.
Mamirauá is a protected area of flooded forest and wetlands situated between the Upper Amazon and Japurá River in northern Brazil. It spans parts of six municipalities and is made up of lakes, channels, and islands where local communities make their homes.
Protection of the area began in 1985 when researcher José Márcio Ayres established it as an Ecological Station. It received its current status as a sustainable development reserve in 1996.
The name Mamirauá refers to a lake at the heart of the reserve, with roots in indigenous languages spoken by communities living here. Local residents have built their own ways of moving through the water and forest, shaped by centuries of connection to this land.
Water routes are the main way to explore the area, as high water levels make travel by water necessary during much of the year. The nearby city of Tefé serves as the main starting point for visits and offers good access to reach the reserve.
Water levels rise and fall each year by up to 7 to 15 meters, constantly reshaping the landscape. These extreme swings create an ever-shifting network of lakes, streams, and islands that show visitors completely different views of the place depending on the season.
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