Rio Branco, The City

Rio Branco is the capital of the state of Acre (pronounced ah-cree) in the northwestern section of Brazil. The census in 2000 registered just under 253,000. The city is situated in the Amazon rainforest and the climate is tropical all the way. The most intense rains are from November to April, but it is rainy all year. During the rainy season, bus travel to the rest of the country is impossible. The city was founded in 1904, altought that region had already been active in rubber extraction for many years. The city is cut in two by the Acre River, and the river is a primary means of transportation.

This is a view of some typical riverside dwellings near downtown.

The Governor's Palace:
Inside the palace you'll find beautiful art and history of the development of the territory of Acre.

Praça Eurico Gaspar Dutra: a newly renovated plaza in front of the Governor's Palace. This plaza was reopened in the summer of 2002 while I was in Rio Branco. It is a beautiful site to see in the downtown area.

Legislative Palace:
You can guess what they do here.