Guanabara Bay

In Portuguese, Baía da Guanabara is an oceanic bay located in southeastern Brazil in the state of Rio de Janeiro. In its southwest shore is the city of Rio de Janeiro and in its southeast shore the city of Niterói. Four other counties surround the bay's shores. Guanabara Bay is the second largest bay in area in Brazil (412 km², with a perimeter of 143 km).

Related Topics:
Portuguese - Bay - Brazil - Rio de Janeiro - Shore - Rio de Janeiro - Niterói

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The name Guanabara comes from the Tupi-Guarani language, guará-nhã-pará, which means "the bosom of sea, similar to a river".

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Guanabara Bay is 31 km (19 miles) long and 28 km (18 miles) wide at its maximum. Its 1,5 km (approximately one mile) wide mouth is flanked at the northern tip by the Pico do Papagaio (Parrot's Peak) and the southern tip by Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf). There are more than 130 islands dotting the bay, including:

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• Lajes
• Governador
• Galeão
• Paquetá
• Cobras
• Flores
• Fiscal
• Villegaignon
• Fundão

The bay is crossed by the mighty Rio-Niterói Bridge and there is a heavy traffic of boats and ships, including regular ferryboat lines. Lately, petroleum has been found in the bay's bottom, and several oil platforms have been constructed. The two airports of Rio de Janeiro, the Tom Jobim International Airport (in the Island of Galeão) and the Santos Dumont Airport are located on its shores. The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro main campus is located on the Island of Fundão. A maze of smaller bridges interconnect seamlessly the main islands of Fundão, Galeão and Governador to the continent.

Related Topics:
Rio-Niterói Bridge - Ferryboat - Petroleum - Oil platform - Tom Jobim International Airport - Santos Dumont Airport - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

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Guanabara's Bay, surrounded by luxuriant tropical forests, beaches, strangely-shaped rocks and peaks, and a backdrop of the high mountains of Serra do Mar, is bordered by one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so it is considered one of the world's premier tourists spots.

Related Topics:
Tropical forest - Serra do Mar - Tourists

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Unfortunately, due to urbanization, deforestation and pollution of its waters with sewage, garbage, oil spills, etc., Guanabara Bay's ecosystem, which was incredibly rich and diversified in the past, has suffered a lot, particularly along its mangrove areas. Recovery measures are currently being tried.

Related Topics:
Urbanization - Deforestation - Pollution - Sewage - Garbage - Oil spill - Ecosystem - Mangrove

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Guanabara Bay: History ►