The city lies at the shore of the Rio Negro, 10 km upstream from the confluence of the Solimões and Negro rivers, which join to form the Rio Amazonas. The confluence of those rivers creates the spectacular "meeting of the waters", with the dark brown (cola color) Rio Negro from the North slowy mixing with the light brown (coffe milk color) Rio Solimoes.

At the end of the 19th century settlers in the part of the Amazon where nowadays Manaus is located started to explore the local rubber trees. This commerce grew in such proportions that Manaus became a very rich city by the early 20th century. This 'Golden Age' is symbolized by the magnificent baroque Manaus Theatre and Symphony Hall, ended when the French and the English secretly took seeds of the rubber tree to Asia to cultivate there. With the competition from Asia, Brazil was not longer the only supplier and Manaus lost its position and importance.

Today Manaus is a relatively big city with over 1,5 milion habitants. Expect some rain the whole year round, altough during Decembre till May rains will be more often.

For more about the Amazon region, click here