Altamira, the Brazilian city whose territory is larger than 104 countries

Altamira, located in the state of Pará, in northern Brazil, on the banks of the Xingu River (a tributary of the Amazon), is a geographic colossus that fascinates both for its vast territorial expanse and its natural and cultural wealth.

With an area of 159,533 square kilometers, it is the largest municipality in Brazil and until 2009, it was the largest municipal subdivision in the world. This extensive area is larger than 104 countries, including Greece, Hungary, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, and Iceland, or the states of Florida and Missouri in the United States. However, it only had 126,279 inhabitants in 2022.

The title of the largest municipal subdivision in the world is now held by Qaasuitsup in Greenland, with an impressive area of 660,000 square kilometers, which even eclipses the vastness of Altamira.

The territory of the city of Altamira shaded within the state of Pará in Brazil. Curiously there is another Altamira in the adjoining state. Credit: Felipe Menegaz / Wikimedia Commons

The largest city in the world is considered to be the Chinese Hulunbuir, with about 263,953 square kilometers, almost the same size as the entire state of Texas, although it is not very clear whether this corresponds to the city itself or its jurisdictional area.

Nevertheless, Altamira remains a colossal entity, encompassing 12.8% of Pará’s territory, 1.8% of Brazil, and 0.8% of South America.

Before the arrival of European colonizers, the area was inhabited by nomadic and semi-nomadic indigenous peoples. The formal foundation of the city dates back to the 18th century with the creation of the Tavaquara Jesuit mission, which was closed in the mid-18th century.

Aerial view of Altamira in a photo taken between 1975 and 1990. Credit: Public domain / Wikimedia Commons

During the 19th century, Altamira became a hub for rubber extraction and trade of Amazonian products. As the city grew, so did its connections with the rest of the region, facilitated by river and land routes.

Today, agriculture and commerce play crucial roles in its economy. However, the most significant change came with the construction of the Belo Monte Dam, the fourth-largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

In terms of generation capacity, it is the third largest in the world with 11,233 GW, after the Three Gorges Dam in China, and the Itaipu Dam between Brazil and Paraguay.

It is widely known that the name Altamira comes from Spanish. In the late 19th century, the place, which still retained the Jesuit name Tavaquara, was dominated by a merchant named Francisco Gayoso, who during one of his trips to Europe heard about the newly discovered Altamira Cave in Cantabria (Spain), which contained astonishing cave paintings. Upon his return, he named his lands after it.

The controversial Belo Monte dam in Altamira. Credit: Vice-Presidência da República / Wikimedia Commons

The vast expanse of Altamira hosts impressive biodiversity. Part of its territory includes protected areas such as the Altamira National Forest, Serra do Pardo National Park, and Terra do Meio Ecological Station, which are vital for the conservation of the Amazon and its countless species.

With a typically tropical climate, a rainy season extending from November to June, and a dry season from July to October, high temperatures are a constant throughout the year, favoring lush vegetation that defines the region’s landscape.

Unfortunately, Altamira has been in the news worldwide in recent years for negative records such as being the most violent city in Brazil, strong opposition to the construction of the dam, and its consequences, and the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.

This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on June 7, 2024: Altamira, la ciudad brasileña cuyo territorio es más grande que 104 países

Sources

The Guardian | Le Monde | Hetrick S, Roy Chowdhury R, Brondizio E, Moran E. Spatiotemporal Patterns and Socioeconomic Contexts of Vegetative Cover in Altamira City, Brazil. Land. 2013; 2(4):774-796. doi.org/10.3390/land2040774 | Wikipedia

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