Oiapoque
Encyclopedia
Oiapoque is a municipality in the north of the state of Amapá
, Brazil
. Its population is 11,449 and its area is 22,625 km². Oiapoque
is also a major river in the same state, forming the international border with French Guiana
. The Oyapock River Bridge
, connecting the village with Saint-Georges in French Guiana
is currently being built.
Lying on the northern coast of Brazil, Oiapoque is popularly considered the northernmost point of Brazil, but there are more northerly points in Roraima
state such as the municipality of Uiramutã
. However, it is still the northernmost coastal city of Brazil, and the northernmost city of Amapá. It occupies more than half of the north border of the state.
The Oiapoque River is said to have been found by Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
in the first years of the 16th century. It has been called Japoc, Yapoc, Iapoco, and even Vicente Pinzón River. The name Oiapoque was officially used from 1900, when a territorial dispute between Brazil and France
was resolved through Swiss
diplomatic arbitration.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the village of Oiapoque hosted a political and criminal concentration camp called Clevelândia. Many Brazilian anarchist militants were sentenced to hard labour here. (See Anarchism in Brazil
.)
Amapá
Amapá is one of the states of Brazil, located in the extreme north, bordering French Guiana and Suriname to the north. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south and west is the Brazilian state of Pará. Perhaps one of the main features of the state is the River Oiapoque, as it was once...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. Its population is 11,449 and its area is 22,625 km². Oiapoque
Oyapock River
The Oyapock or Oiapoque River is a 370-km long river in South America that forms most of the border between French Guiana and the Brazilian state of Amapá...
is also a major river in the same state, forming the international border with French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. The Oyapock River Bridge
Oyapock River Bridge
The Oyapock River Bridge is cable-stayed bridge built and expected to be inaugurated in 2011. It will span the Oyapock River to link the cities of Oiapoque in Brazil and Saint-Georges de l'Oyapock in French Guiana....
, connecting the village with Saint-Georges in French Guiana
French Guiana
French Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
is currently being built.
Lying on the northern coast of Brazil, Oiapoque is popularly considered the northernmost point of Brazil, but there are more northerly points in Roraima
Roraima
Roraima is the northernmost and least populated state of Brazil, located in the Amazon region. It borders the states of Amazonas and Pará, as well as the nations of Venezuela and Guyana. The population is 400,000 and the capital is Boa Vista...
state such as the municipality of Uiramutã
Uiramutã
Uiramutã is a municipality located in the northeast of the state of Roraima in Brazil. Its population is 7,742 and its area is 8,066 km². It is the northernmost city in Brazil, with Monte Caburaí being the northernmost point...
. However, it is still the northernmost coastal city of Brazil, and the northernmost city of Amapá. It occupies more than half of the north border of the state.
The Oiapoque River is said to have been found by Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón
Vicente Yáñez Pinzón was a Spanish navigator, explorer, and conquistador, the youngest of the Pinzón brothers...
in the first years of the 16th century. It has been called Japoc, Yapoc, Iapoco, and even Vicente Pinzón River. The name Oiapoque was officially used from 1900, when a territorial dispute between Brazil and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
was resolved through Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
diplomatic arbitration.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the village of Oiapoque hosted a political and criminal concentration camp called Clevelândia. Many Brazilian anarchist militants were sentenced to hard labour here. (See Anarchism in Brazil
Anarchism in Brazil
Anarchism was an influential contributor to the social politics of Brazils Old Republic. During the epoch of mass migrations of European labourers at the end of the nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth century, anarchist ideas started to spread, particularly amongst the country’s labour...
.)