Manaus is the capital city of Amazonas state and has a fascinating history. 

The city was settled in 1669, and was named Manaus in 1832, which means “mother of the gods” in the indigenous language of the Manaos tribe. It became a major urban center during the rubber boom in the 1900s. Today, it has a population of 1.6 million and is a major industrial center, including cell phone and electronics manufacturing plants.

The diverse population of Manaus is an interesting representation of Brazil’s multiple ethnicities: indigenous tribes, people of European and African descent, and mestiços (people of mixed descent). It is also the home of settlers from Japan, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.

Despite being in the middle of the Amazon rainforest, Manaus became a modern and cosmopolitan city during the rubber era, which began in 1879 and ended after World War II. The Opera House was built in 1896, and still hosts operas today. The Federal University of Manaus was established in 1906, and the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, modeled after the Les Halles Paris market, was built in 1882.

Today, Manaus is home to one of the most modern airports in Brazil, the main jumping off point for exploring for the Amazon rainforest. It’s also home to several important cultural events, like the Musa de Verão Fashion Show, the Amazon Opera Festival, the Amazon Folklore Festival, and the Amazon Carnival.

Manaus is also host to the largest amateur soccer tournament in the world. Known as the “Peladão,” it involves over 1,000 teams from all over the Amazon. It also includes a beauty pageant, and each team is represented by a queen. The queen’s success in the pageant determines if the team moves ahead in the tournament.

Finally, Manaus is located in the heart of the Amazon, and is close to the main tourist attractions of unique wildlife, waterfalls, and national parks.