Tefe, Amazonas, Brazil

Tefe

Tefé is a city, as well as a municipality, in the state of Amazonas in Brazil. Located approximately 310 miles west of Manaus on the south bank of the Rio Solimões on a lake formed by the mouth of the Tefé River, Tefé was founded in the 17th century by missionaries who named it Nogueira. Later it went by the name of Ega until finally the residents gave the name it carries today.

Since there are no roads into Tefé access is by river boat or plane. By fast boat it is about a12 hour voyage from Manaus.
Rico Linhas Aereas operate flights from Manaus to Tefé.

Although farming and fishing are important industries, eco-tourism is becoming the big money maker because Tefé is the major starting point for trips into the Mamiraua Reserve.

Mamirauá refers to the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve
The reserve is a 22,000 square mile park near the village of Boca do Mamirauá, and it includes mostly Amazon flood forest.
Mamirauá Reserve is protected by the international Ramsar Convention as a wetland of global importance.
Many propose the Reserve should form part of a future UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Brazilian Amazon. The reserve is the legacy and life work of Brazilian scientist José Márcio Corrêa Ayres.

Mamiraua Reserve has concentrations of Amazonian fauna rarely seen.

In the dry season, thousands of cayman are easily observed .

Concentrations of up to 15 000 cormorants and herons fish in the lakes, filled with a variety of fish.

In the trees, numerous families of diverse monkeys share the branches with sloths, as well as beautiful bromeliads and orchids.

Mamirauá is home to over 400 species of bird and at least 45 species of mammal. One of the strangest and rarest is the White Uacari, a monkey weighing about nine pounds, that feeds almost exclusively on the seeds of unripe fruits. Uacaris live in family bands of up to 50 individuals, and travel many miles every day, in search of their favorite foods.

Mamirauá also is home to the Black Headed Squirrel Monkey.

The lakes and rivers provide a refuge for the Amazon Manatee, and the pink dolphin.

Mamiraua is worth the trip, especially when one has a knowledgeable guide to insure the visitor sees everything.