São Gabriel da Cachoeira

"Uaupes" redirects here. For the river, see Vaupés River.

São Gabriel da Cachoeira
Municipality
The Municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira
Flag Seal
Nickname(s): Uaupés
Location in the State of Amazonas
São Gabriel da Cachoeira Location in Brazil
Coordinates:
Country	Brazil
Region	North
State	Amazonas
Founded	September 3, 1668
Government
• Mayor	Rene Coimbra (PCdoB)
Area
• Total	109,185 km2 (42,157 sq mi)
Elevation	92 m (302 ft)
Population (2008)
• Total	40,806
• Density	0.31/km2 (0.8/sq mi)
	[1]
Time zone	AST (UTC-4)
HDI (2000)	0.673 – medium[2]

São Gabriel da Cachoeira (Saint Gabriel of the Waterfall) is a municipality located on the northern shore of the Rio Negro River, in the region of Cabeça do Cachorro, Amazonas state, Brazil. Between 1952 and 1966, it was officially called Uaupés, after the nearby Vaupés River. Most of its inhabitants are indigenous people. The city's population is somewhere around 13,000, but the entire region has 40,806 people (2008), scattered over 109,185 km²,^[3] mostly indigenous peoples in surrounding tribes and villages.

In 2003, Nheengatu became an official language along with Portuguese in São Gabriel da Cachoeira.^[4]

It is the third largest municipality in Brazil by territorial area, and the second largest in Amazonas. It is also the northernmost city of Amazonas, and part of its territory is within the Pico da Neblina National Park. However, the peak itself is located in Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, and São Gabriel da Cachoeira is in the lowlands. It is not far from the equator, and the climate is correspondingly hot and humid.

The city is served by São Gabriel da Cachoeira Airport.

Most of the non-indigenous residents of the city are affiliated with the Brazilian army, usually serving a term of two years or more.

History

The City was founded in 1668 as an aldea by Franciscan Friar Theodósio[Teodózio or Teodósio] da Veiga and Captain Pedro da Costa Favela on the Rio Negro, near the mouth of the Rio Aruím. In 1761, a fort was built on the location, and the settlement became the town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira.

Climate

See also

• Roman Catholic Diocese of São Gabriel da Cachoeira

References

Municipalities of Amazonas Capital: Manaus Mesoregion Centro Amazonense Coari Anamã Anori Beruri Caapiranga Coari Codajás Itacoatiara Itacoatiara Itapiranga Nova Olinda do Norte Silves Urucurituba Manaus Autazes Careiro Careiro da Várzea Iranduba Manacapuru Manaquiri Manaus Parintins Barreirinha Boa Vista do Ramos Maués Nhamundá Parintins São Sebastião do Uatumã Urucará Rio Preto da Eva Presidente Figueiredo Rio Preto da Eva Tefe Alvarães Tefé Uarini Mesoregion Norte Amazonense Japura Japurá Maraã Rio Negro Barcelos Novo Airão Santa Isabel do Rio Negro São Gabriel da Cachoeira Mesoregion Sudoeste Amazonense Alto Solimoes Amaturá Atalaia do Norte Benjamin Constant Fonte Boa Jutaí Santo Antônio do Içá São Paulo de Olivença Tabatinga Tonantins Jurua Carauari Eirunepé Envira Guajará Ipixuna Itamarati Juruá Mesoregion Sul Amazonense Boca do Acre Boca do Acre Pauini Madeira Apuí Borba Humaitá Manicoré Novo Aripuanã Purus Canutama Lábrea Tapauá