Capital: Manaus
Population: 2,812,557 inhabitants (2000 Census - IBGE)
Area: 1,577,820,2 Km²
Population Density: 1.31 inhab/km²
Latitude: Northernmost point - 2º08'30" and Southernmost point - 9º49'00"
Longitude: Easternmost point - 56º04'50" and Westernmost point - 73º48'46"
Municipalities: 62 (1997)

Time Difference: 4 hours behind Greenwich time, and 1 hour behind the rest of the Brazilian states, except for Acre which is 1 hour ahead.

Climate: Equatorial (hot and humid). Average temperature 89.6º F. The rainy season runs from December through June (it rains almost every day). The rest of the year is the dry season with intense sun and temperatures around 100.4º F. September temperatures can climb to around 104º F. Short but heavy showers are frequent.

Geographical Location: Located in the centre of Brazil's Northern Region, bordered to the North by the State of Roraima, Venezuela and Colombia; to the East by the State of Pará; to the Southeast by the State of Mato Grosso; to the South bye the State of Rondônia and to the Southwest by the State of Acre and by Peru.

Hidrography: Forms the largest water basin in the world with 6,217,220 km². Its main rivers are the Amazon, the Negro, the Solimões, the Juruá and the Madeira.

Main Tributaries:

• Right Bank: Xié, Içanã, Uaupés, Curicuriari, Urubaxi, Cuiuni, Inini, Apuaiu, Carabinani, and Paduari, of which the first three originate in Colombia.
• Left Bank: Conorochite and Cassiquiare (both in Venezuela) and the rivers Cauaburi, Marauia, Daraã, Preto, Demeni, Branco, Jauaperi, and Canianai.

Relief: Characterized by dry land wich is very flat and low level. The higher ground, largely made up of the Itapirapecó, Imeri, Urucuzeiro and Cupim ranges, is on the border with the State of Roraima and with Venezuela. This is where Pico da Neblina (3,014m), Brazil's highest point, is located.

The Amazonian Plain is made up of:

• Floodplains, locally known as Várzeas (swamp forest flooded by blackwater rivers for extended periods) and Igapós (flooded forest flooded by seasonal whitewater rivers); and
• Dry Land.

Vegetation: Vegetation is dense, heterogeneous and deep green in colour. It covers 90% of the area's surface.

Types of forests in the region:

• Perenifólia Hileiana Amazônica Forest (dry land forest);
• Perenifólia Paludosa Ribeirinha Forest - flooded during seasonal periods (várzea forest); and
• Igapó Forest - permanently flooded.

Population: 1,592,555 inhabitants (IBGE - 2004)
Urban area: 11,401 km²
Location: The urban area of Manaus is located between the coordinates 2º'57 and 3º10' South latitude and 59º53' and 60º07' West longitude.
Borders: Bordered to the North by the Municipality of Presidente Figueiredo; to the South by the Municipalities of Careiro and Iranduba; to the East by the Municipality of Rio Preto da Eva and Amatari; and to the West by the Municipality of Novo Airão.
Altitude: 25m abouve sea level.
Climate and Temperature: Humid equatorial.
Average Temperature: 80.06°F
Humidity: 80%

There are only seasons in the state:

- The Rainy Season, correspondingin to winter, begins in December and lasts until May. It rain almost every day.
- The Dry Season, when it rains less, corresponds to summer and runs from June to November. September is the most critical month the temperature can soar 104°F.

Business and Shopping: Downtown businesses are open from 8am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday and from 8am to 12pm on Saturdays. However, there are many shops that now offer extended hours. Shopping Centres are open every day of the week and close at 10pm.

Banks: Open from 9am to 3pm.

Television:
Public Broadcast: Tv Cultura - Channel 2; A Crítica (SBT) - Channel 4; Tv Amazonas (Globo) - Channel 5; Tv RBN - Channel 8; Tv Manaus - Channel 10; Tv Rio Negro (Band) Channel 13; Rede Tv - Channel 18; MTV - Channel 23; Amazon Sat - Channel 44.
Cable TV: Sky; Vivax; NET.

Printed Newspapers:
A Crítica; Amazonas Em Tempo, Correio Amazonense, Diário do Amazonas, Jornal do Commercio, O Estado do Amazonas.

Voltage: 110 voltz (some hotels use 220 volts).

Local Holidays:
September 5th - Amazonas Granted Province Status;
October 24th - Anniversary of Manaus;
December 8th - Our Lady of Conceição, Patron Saint of Amazonas.