Manaus (State of Amazonas) - Jan 2-5, 2017
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR MANAUS
At the end of our Amazon field tour, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the key concepts involved in river morphology and water quality in the Amazon basin.
2. Explain the simple concepts behind climate change and environmental decline.
3. Describe the factors (logging, farming, mining) that are causing deforestation in the area
4. Discuss the specific impact of resource exploration on environmental quality and the local communities.
5. Describe the drivers behind loss of habitat and species extinction.
6. Explain the complex interactions of the factors above and what is being done locally, regionally and internationally to address the problems.
ACTIVITIES
i. Jan 2nd: discussion of several issues in Manaus with local stakeholder. Visit market and museums.
11:30am | Transfer from Airport to Hotel
12:30pm | Check-in at Hotel
01:00pm | Lunch - Buy your own lunch
01:30pm | Historical Downtown and Public Market (Adolpho Lisboa) - One of the greatest surprises of Manaus is the richness of its historical patrimony. Here we are going to visit the Largo São Sebastião (Main Plaza), Amazon Theatre and the Public Market Adolpho Lisboa.
This guided walking tour lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.
04:00pm | Transfer from Public Market to MUSA (Amazonian Museum)
05:00pm |Sunset at MUSA - Built in 2009, Musa has a reserved area of 100ha (247.105 Acres) of the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, which belongs to INPA (National Institute of Amazonian Research) in Manaus. During the visitation it is possible to see the Fish and People Exhibition, Orchidarium, tracks in the middle of the rainforest, and contemplate the sunset from a tower of 42 meters height (137 feet) which is also perfect to see and hear up to 800 (eight hundred) different species of bird and of course contemplate the amazing green of the forest canopy.
07:30pm | Return to Manaus
ii. Jan 3rd: Cruise to the meeting of the waters, Rio Negro and Amazon River.
Meeting of the Waters
Leaving the Tropical Hotel, we will navigate the Rio Negro bound to an indigenous community to watch a ritual presentation and know a little about their culture. The trip goes towards the floating platform of interaction with the pink dolphins, where we will have the opportunity to swim with these amazing and docile animals and observe them to be fed by a native. Soon after going down the Rio Negro through the edge of the city toward the Ecological Park January, where will be served a regional lunch (fish-based menu, meat or chicken, salads and side dishes, self-service buffet), after that we will a visit to the water lilies stilt walking a runway in the jungle, then visit the local handicraft fair. The tour continues towards the community of houseboats of Catalan and soon after we will glimpse the Meeting of the Waters phenomenon. After that we will return to the Tropical Hotel Harbor.
08:00am | Transfer to Tropical Hotel
09:00am | Boat Trip Begins
12:30pm | Lunch
05:30pm | Return to Manaus
iii. Jan 4th: Geopark Amazon Falls.
Visitation to the Geopark Amazon Falls.
About the Geopark:
The Geopark Amazon Falls is located approximately 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) from Manaus (driving north) between the vast Amazonian lowland and the remote highlands of the Guyana.
Known as “The Land of Falls”, the Municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, State of Amazonas, has fascinating natural landscapes which are associated with beautiful falls and rapids, exotic caves and interesting geological/ paleontological sites that represent part of the geological history of the Planet between the Paleoproterozoic and Cenozoic eras. And this whole scenario comes amid lush rainforest decorated with examples of the Amazon fauna richness. The main attraction of the Geopark is the diversity of landforms in horizontal layers of quite friable siliciclastic rocks of the Devonian-Silurian Trombetas Group, carved by the erosive action of heavy equatorial rains. Also present a ruiniform and pseudokarstic features such as canyons, stone arches and bridges, sinkholes, caves, grottos and alveolar surfaces that are true natural sculptures.
06:00am | Bus drive from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo
08:00am | Arrival Forecast
09:00am | Geosite number 3: Iracema Waterfall – here is possible to observe layers of horizontal formations of thin sandstone which represents sedimentary shallow beach facies.
11:00am | Lunch at Santuário Falls
03:30pm | Geosite number 8: Maroaga Grotto – It is located in a Environmental Protection Area (APA Maroaga) and will be possible to observe horizontal layers of sandstone quartz which belong to the Nhámundá Formation, also we will be able to see examples of fluvial and pluvial erosion in sandstone both in the maroaga cave as in the Judéia Grotto.
05:30pm | Return to Manaus
09:45pm | Transfer from Hotel to Airport
iv. Jan 5th: this is actually a little after midnight on the 4th. Prepare for departure to Rio.
ABOUT OUR GUIDES
Guide 1:
Renê Luzardo - Geologist expert in structural geology. Master of Regional Geology from the Federal University of Amazonas. Currently he is working on CPRM - Geological Survey of Brazil, which is the Regional Coordinator of CPRM Geoparks Project and head of the laboratory of petrology and mineralogy.
Guide 2:
Ramon Batista - Graduated in Biological Sciences and a Masters in Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA). His main area of expertise is the ecophysiology of fish and Amazonian aquatic organisms with studies involving biochemical, physiological and molecular adaptations to natural environmental changes, especially low-oxygen conditions (hypoxia), very common in flooded areas of the Amazon basin. He is currently a doctoral student of the Genetics Program, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology at INPA.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR MANAUS
At the end of our Amazon field tour, students will be able to:
1. Articulate the key concepts involved in river morphology and water quality in the Amazon basin.
2. Explain the simple concepts behind climate change and environmental decline.
3. Describe the factors (logging, farming, mining) that are causing deforestation in the area
4. Discuss the specific impact of resource exploration on environmental quality and the local communities.
5. Describe the drivers behind loss of habitat and species extinction.
6. Explain the complex interactions of the factors above and what is being done locally, regionally and internationally to address the problems.
ACTIVITIES
i. Jan 2nd: discussion of several issues in Manaus with local stakeholder. Visit market and museums.
11:30am | Transfer from Airport to Hotel
12:30pm | Check-in at Hotel
01:00pm | Lunch - Buy your own lunch
01:30pm | Historical Downtown and Public Market (Adolpho Lisboa) - One of the greatest surprises of Manaus is the richness of its historical patrimony. Here we are going to visit the Largo São Sebastião (Main Plaza), Amazon Theatre and the Public Market Adolpho Lisboa.
This guided walking tour lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes approximately.
04:00pm | Transfer from Public Market to MUSA (Amazonian Museum)
05:00pm |Sunset at MUSA - Built in 2009, Musa has a reserved area of 100ha (247.105 Acres) of the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve, which belongs to INPA (National Institute of Amazonian Research) in Manaus. During the visitation it is possible to see the Fish and People Exhibition, Orchidarium, tracks in the middle of the rainforest, and contemplate the sunset from a tower of 42 meters height (137 feet) which is also perfect to see and hear up to 800 (eight hundred) different species of bird and of course contemplate the amazing green of the forest canopy.
07:30pm | Return to Manaus
ii. Jan 3rd: Cruise to the meeting of the waters, Rio Negro and Amazon River.
Meeting of the Waters
Leaving the Tropical Hotel, we will navigate the Rio Negro bound to an indigenous community to watch a ritual presentation and know a little about their culture. The trip goes towards the floating platform of interaction with the pink dolphins, where we will have the opportunity to swim with these amazing and docile animals and observe them to be fed by a native. Soon after going down the Rio Negro through the edge of the city toward the Ecological Park January, where will be served a regional lunch (fish-based menu, meat or chicken, salads and side dishes, self-service buffet), after that we will a visit to the water lilies stilt walking a runway in the jungle, then visit the local handicraft fair. The tour continues towards the community of houseboats of Catalan and soon after we will glimpse the Meeting of the Waters phenomenon. After that we will return to the Tropical Hotel Harbor.
08:00am | Transfer to Tropical Hotel
09:00am | Boat Trip Begins
12:30pm | Lunch
05:30pm | Return to Manaus
iii. Jan 4th: Geopark Amazon Falls.
Visitation to the Geopark Amazon Falls.
About the Geopark:
The Geopark Amazon Falls is located approximately 100 kilometers (62.5 miles) from Manaus (driving north) between the vast Amazonian lowland and the remote highlands of the Guyana.
Known as “The Land of Falls”, the Municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, State of Amazonas, has fascinating natural landscapes which are associated with beautiful falls and rapids, exotic caves and interesting geological/ paleontological sites that represent part of the geological history of the Planet between the Paleoproterozoic and Cenozoic eras. And this whole scenario comes amid lush rainforest decorated with examples of the Amazon fauna richness. The main attraction of the Geopark is the diversity of landforms in horizontal layers of quite friable siliciclastic rocks of the Devonian-Silurian Trombetas Group, carved by the erosive action of heavy equatorial rains. Also present a ruiniform and pseudokarstic features such as canyons, stone arches and bridges, sinkholes, caves, grottos and alveolar surfaces that are true natural sculptures.
06:00am | Bus drive from Manaus to Presidente Figueiredo
08:00am | Arrival Forecast
09:00am | Geosite number 3: Iracema Waterfall – here is possible to observe layers of horizontal formations of thin sandstone which represents sedimentary shallow beach facies.
11:00am | Lunch at Santuário Falls
03:30pm | Geosite number 8: Maroaga Grotto – It is located in a Environmental Protection Area (APA Maroaga) and will be possible to observe horizontal layers of sandstone quartz which belong to the Nhámundá Formation, also we will be able to see examples of fluvial and pluvial erosion in sandstone both in the maroaga cave as in the Judéia Grotto.
05:30pm | Return to Manaus
09:45pm | Transfer from Hotel to Airport
iv. Jan 5th: this is actually a little after midnight on the 4th. Prepare for departure to Rio.
ABOUT OUR GUIDES
Guide 1:
Renê Luzardo - Geologist expert in structural geology. Master of Regional Geology from the Federal University of Amazonas. Currently he is working on CPRM - Geological Survey of Brazil, which is the Regional Coordinator of CPRM Geoparks Project and head of the laboratory of petrology and mineralogy.
Guide 2:
Ramon Batista - Graduated in Biological Sciences and a Masters in Genetics, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology at the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA). His main area of expertise is the ecophysiology of fish and Amazonian aquatic organisms with studies involving biochemical, physiological and molecular adaptations to natural environmental changes, especially low-oxygen conditions (hypoxia), very common in flooded areas of the Amazon basin. He is currently a doctoral student of the Genetics Program, Conservation and Evolutionary Biology at INPA.
The following documentaries may be helpful in preparing you for this part of the trip. Only a few are assigned.
1. Amazon: Land of the flooded forest (56 mins). Try this link if the Youtube one doesn't work.
2. Tipping point: the Amazon (60 mins)
3. Equator - Rivers of the sun - Amazonia (52 mins)
4. The Amazon Delta (50 mins)
5. The Amazon: Belem to Manaus (53 mins)
6. Golden Amazon - deforestation, overfishing and gold panning (55 mins)
7. Interview with minister of the environment (BBC, 24 mins)
8. Climate change and the Amazon Basin (55 mins)
9. Wildlife of Brazil's Amazon (69 mins)
10. Peru’s indigenous people call for protections against environmental threats (8 mins, PBS report)
11. Tipping point: Amazon, different source from #2 (55 mins)
12. BBC - Amazon, the flooded forest (90 mins), split into seven parts.
13. Facts about tropical rainforests (10 mins)
14. Interesting facts about tropical rainforests (4 mins)
The 5 hours you spend watching these documentaries will help you understand some of the complex issues we will discuss on the trip. Spend the time, it's worth it!
ASSIGNED WORK FOR YOUR BLOG
Watch documentaries 1, 6, 8 and 9. Summarize the main points in about one page and then discuss what you think about what you saw in another page (this should be done for each documentary). Post each reflection as a link on your blog before midnight on October 30th. After the trip you must post your reflection on every activity we engage in during the trip. I encourage you to take good notes during stakeholder meetings and presentations.
1. Amazon: Land of the flooded forest (56 mins). Try this link if the Youtube one doesn't work.
2. Tipping point: the Amazon (60 mins)
3. Equator - Rivers of the sun - Amazonia (52 mins)
4. The Amazon Delta (50 mins)
5. The Amazon: Belem to Manaus (53 mins)
6. Golden Amazon - deforestation, overfishing and gold panning (55 mins)
7. Interview with minister of the environment (BBC, 24 mins)
8. Climate change and the Amazon Basin (55 mins)
9. Wildlife of Brazil's Amazon (69 mins)
10. Peru’s indigenous people call for protections against environmental threats (8 mins, PBS report)
11. Tipping point: Amazon, different source from #2 (55 mins)
12. BBC - Amazon, the flooded forest (90 mins), split into seven parts.
13. Facts about tropical rainforests (10 mins)
14. Interesting facts about tropical rainforests (4 mins)
The 5 hours you spend watching these documentaries will help you understand some of the complex issues we will discuss on the trip. Spend the time, it's worth it!
ASSIGNED WORK FOR YOUR BLOG
Watch documentaries 1, 6, 8 and 9. Summarize the main points in about one page and then discuss what you think about what you saw in another page (this should be done for each documentary). Post each reflection as a link on your blog before midnight on October 30th. After the trip you must post your reflection on every activity we engage in during the trip. I encourage you to take good notes during stakeholder meetings and presentations.
Itinerary | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
File Type: |
FLIGHTS (Sunday, January 1st, 2017):
Depart JFK at 5:30 pm for Sao Paulo, land at 6:25 am on January 2nd in Terminal 3. This flight is 10 hours long. Leave Sao Paolo at 9:30am from terminal 2 and get to Manaus at 11:33 am on January 2nd. This flight is about 4 hrs long. NOTE: We check in as international passengers in NYC, so our bags will be checked through to Sao paolo (the first international airport we get to in Brazil). We will recheck them to Manaus after going through customs. Pack your medications and other necessities in your carry on.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Taj Mahal Manaus
Av. Getulio Vargas, 741, Manaus, AM, 69020010 Brazil
Tel: +55 (51) 30429600
HOSPITAL
Hospital Adventista de Manaus
Av. Governador Danilo Areosa 139, Distrito Industria, Manaus, ,
Manaus(Amazonas, Brazil)
Phone +55 (092) 613-1313
ATTORNEYS
Advogado Dr Damião Alves Ribeiro
Av. Eduardo Ribeiro 520, sl. 803, Manaus, AM, 69010-000
Phone: +55 (92) 3232-2146
Depart JFK at 5:30 pm for Sao Paulo, land at 6:25 am on January 2nd in Terminal 3. This flight is 10 hours long. Leave Sao Paolo at 9:30am from terminal 2 and get to Manaus at 11:33 am on January 2nd. This flight is about 4 hrs long. NOTE: We check in as international passengers in NYC, so our bags will be checked through to Sao paolo (the first international airport we get to in Brazil). We will recheck them to Manaus after going through customs. Pack your medications and other necessities in your carry on.
ACCOMMODATION
Hotel Taj Mahal Manaus
Av. Getulio Vargas, 741, Manaus, AM, 69020010 Brazil
Tel: +55 (51) 30429600
HOSPITAL
Hospital Adventista de Manaus
Av. Governador Danilo Areosa 139, Distrito Industria, Manaus, ,
Manaus(Amazonas, Brazil)
Phone +55 (092) 613-1313
ATTORNEYS
Advogado Dr Damião Alves Ribeiro
Av. Eduardo Ribeiro 520, sl. 803, Manaus, AM, 69010-000
Phone: +55 (92) 3232-2146