, in Manaus. More than 120 years old, it represents the city's heyday during the
rubber boom. Because of Manaus' location within the
Amazon rainforest, it attracts a substantial number of Brazilian and foreign tourists, who come to see wildlife on land and in the rivers. It is also home to one of the most endangered primates in Brazil, the
pied tamarin. Tour boats leave Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the black waters of the Negro River meet the brown waters of the Solimoes River, flowing side by side without mixing for about . Visitors can also explore riverbanks and "igarapes", swim and
canoe in placid lakes, simply walk in the lush
forest or stay at
hotels in the jungle. About from downtown is Ponta Negra beach, a neighbourhood that has a beachfront and popular nightlife area. A luxurious hotel is located at the west end of Ponta Negra; its
zoo and orchid greenhouse as well as preserved woods and beach are open for public visits. The
Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, founded in 1882, is the city's oldest marketplace, trading in fruit, vegetables, and especially fish. It is a copy of the Les Halles market of Paris. Other interesting historical sites include the
customs building, of mixed styles and medieval inspiration; the Rio Negro Palace cultural center; and the
Justice Palace, right next to the Amazonas Opera House. Manaus has also many large parks with native forest preservation areas, such as the Bosque da Ciência and Parque do Mindú. The largest urban forest in the world is located within the
Federal University of Amazonas, which was founded on January 17, 1909, and is the oldest federal university in Brazil. Manaus also has several Malls such as Manauara Shopping, Amazonas Shopping Center, Millennium Shopping, Shopping Ponta Negra, Studio 5 Festival Mall, Shopping Cidade Nova, Manaus Plaza Shopping, Shopping Sao José, and other small Shopping Areas. Most of these malls include large food courts and movie theaters.
Culture The city's cultural calendar throughout the year includes the Opera, Theater, Jazz, and Cinema festivals, as well as Boi Manaus (usually held around Manaus' anniversary on the 24th of October), which is a great celebration of Northern Brazilian culture through Boi-Bumbá music.
Amazonas Opera House The Amazonas Opera House, inaugurated in 1896, has 700 seats and was constructed with bricks brought from
Europe, French
glass, and Italian
marble. Several important
opera and theater companies, as well as international
orchestras, have already performed there. The theater is home to the
Amazonas Philharmonic orchestra which regularly rehearses and performs there along with choirs, jazz bands, dance performances, and more.
Parks Ponta Negra Cultural, Sport, and Leisure Park Ponta Negra beach, located from downtown Manaus, is one of the city's most important tourist attractions. It also has an
amphitheater with a capacity of 15.000 people.
Adolpho Ducke Botanical Garden The Adolpho Ducke
Botanical Garden, inside a ecological reserve, holds a huge number of plant and animal species.
Mindu Municipal Park It is located in an
urban area, in the November 10 Park district. It was created in 1992 to be an area of ecological interest. It covers an area of of forest remaining from the Township, and is used for scientific, educational, cultural and tourist activities. It is one of the last
habitats for the
pied tamarin, a species of
monkey that only inhabits the Manaus region and is considered to be at high risk of
extinction. It is possible to walk through four distinct
ecosystems in the
park: land covered by secondary growth, firm ground brush, sandbanks and degraded areas that were illegally cleared in 1989. It also has an
amphitheater for 600 people,
gardens planted with
medicinal and
aromatic herbs, an orchid nursery, aerial trails, and signs aiming to develop environmental
education programs.
Public swimming areas The Tarumã, Tarumãzinho, and Cachoeira das Almas bayous (branches of rivers), located near the city, are leisure spots for the population on weekends. Manaus has several public swimming areas that are being remodeled and urbanized lately. There are also many private clubs that can be visited.
Meeting of Waters phenomenon of the
confluence of the
Rio Negro's water and the
Solimões River's water The Meeting of Waters (
Portuguese:
Encontro das Àguas) is a natural phenomenon caused by the
confluence of the Rio Negro's dark water and the Solimões River's muddy brown water that come together to form the Amazonas River. For or more, both rivers'
waters run side by side without mixing. The reason for this is not clear, although it is likely that the main factors are differences in the speed of the current, the volumes of water and the different densities of the two rivers. It is not thought that other differences between the two rivers (temperature and acidity) affect the mixing process significantly. The Negro River flows approximately at , while the Solimões River flows at .
CIGS Zoo The zoo is open to the public. It is managed by the
Brazilian Army and has approximately 300 species of animals from the Amazon
fauna.
Beaches and waterfalls For outings to beaches and parks situated near the city, it is often necessary to use
boats. The beaches are formed right after the river water level starts dropping, which lasts from August to November. Starting in December, as the river rises, the
waters invade the sand and the woods on the banks. The Paricatuba Waterfall, located on the right bank of the
Negro River, along a small tributary, is formed by sedimentary rocks, surrounded by abundant vegetation. Access is by boat. The best time to visit is from August to February. Love Cascade located in the Guedes bayou, with cold and crystal-clear water, is accessible only by boat and, then, hiking through the forest. Tupé Beach is approximately from Manaus. This
beach is well frequented by bathers on holidays and weekends. It is accessible only by boat. Moon Beach is located on the left bank of the Negro River, from Manaus. It is accessed only by boat. The beach is shaped like a crescent moon and is surrounded by
rare vegetation. Lion Waterfall is located on km 34 of the AM-010 highway (Manaus-Itacoatiara). == Sports ==