Brasiléia
| Brasiléia | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Street in Brasiléia | ||
| ||
 Location of Brasiléia municipality in Acre | ||
  Brasiléia Location in Brazil | ||
| Coordinates: 11°00′S 68°44′W / 11.000°S 68.733°W | ||
| Country |
 Brazil | |
| State | Acre | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 1,674 sq mi (4,336 km2) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 21,438 | |
Brasiléia is a Brazilian municipality located in the northern state of Acre. Its population in 2007 was estimated at 20,238 inhabitants. Its area is 336.189 km². Located 237 km south of White River on the border with Bolivia, has its limits with the municipalities Epitaciolândia, Brazil Assisi, and Sena Madureira Xapuri. Although established as a free trade area, it is still not regulated. Currently, it is recorded heavy dependence on trade with the neighboring municipality of Cobija Bolivia, contrary to what happened in decades past, when the fact was the reverse.
History
Brasiléia originated from a small strip of land from an old rubber plantation called Carmen, on July 3, 1910, using the name of Brasilia. In 1943 the town's name was changed since it had the same name as the new federal capital. The current name is derived from the union of words Brazil (Bras) and Hiléia (forest). In 1992 the town divided its area, with the entire area and population located on the right bank of the Rio Acre originating the city of Epitaciolândia.
Geography
The Xapuri and Acre rivers cross the municipality territory, with the Xapuri river marking the border with the Republic of Bolivia. In the early decades of the twentieth century the region experienced the boom of Brazilian nuts and rubber exploration, which were transported by the river Acre via cargo ships known as "chata". Today this kind of transport disappeared, giving way to road transport by highway BR-317 linking with the state capital, Rio Branco, fully paved, being in its main access route.
The municipality contains part of the 931,537 hectares (2,301,880 acres) Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, a sustainable use environmental unit created in 1990.[1]
Population
The county ranks sixth in the Acre state population, with 20,237 inhabitants at the rate of 64.22% urban (12 243 inhabitants) and 35.78% rural (6,822 inhabitants). Among the rural population 1,060 are denominated ribeirinhos, characterized as communities living along the river Acre.
Economy
The city's economy has suffered a great loss, due to the lack of supervision and low prices in Bolivia compared with those of Brazil. Not just consumers are turning to the Bolivian economy, but entrepreneurs as well due to free trade zone of Cobija (the capital of Pando Department and Nicolás Suárez Province). Every day, new shops and businesses are built by Brazilians living in the neighboring towns of Epitaciolândia and even those who reside in Rio Branco, are investing in counties within Bolivia. The unprotected border of both countries is also affected by trafficking of drugs, weapons, fuel and goods. Economic activities are virtually paralyzed, its agriculture is traditional, industry gives signs of slow recovery, with the installation of a milk processing facility, which will supply the markets of Epitaciolândia and Cobija (Bolivia). Some sawmills and furniture factories, in the service sector, are completely paralyzed. Cattle ranching has a considerable workforce, especially for beef cattle. There is great potential for ecotourism, but it lacks exposure and investment. Currently the city of Brasileia does not have an infrastructure of hotels and restaurants able to cater to the influx of tourists who shop in the zone of Cobija, especially on weekends.
Coordinates: 11°00′S 68°44′W / 11.000°S 68.733°W
References
- ↑ Unidade de Conservação: Reserva Extrativista Chico Mendes (in Portuguese), MMA: Ministério do Meio Ambiente, retrieved 2016-06-04
