Santarem
Santarem, Brazil - port code STM
Santarem, the third largest town on the Amazon, was founded in 1661 on a site about two miles from where the Tapajos River joins the Amazon and about 480 miles east of Manaus. A city of 100,000, half-way between Belem and Manaus, it remains a typical Amazon River town with unpaved streets and a retaining wall. Life centers around the Cathedral, the Mercado Modelo, and the docks. The Tapajos is like an inland sea, 15-1/2 miles wide not far above its mouth. It provides a different aspect of the Amazon. During the dry season while the river is low, good white sand beaches provide great swimming and sunning. At the same time one can see water buffalo being used to till soil that, for three-quarters of the year, is underwater and where, during the wet season, one can only see tree-tops and is told "this is an island". Recent discoveries of bauxite and gold have replaced the long-since diminished rubber trade and Santarem today is on a new path of growth and prosperity. The language is Portuguese, and Spanish is understood to some extent. The weather is about the same most of the year, hot, humid and some rain. Light, comfortable clothes and walking shoes are best for sightseeing. More formal wear for restaurants.
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