What should we explore in Belem?
It is time to start thinking about what we should do once we get to Belem. There are several interesting places to explore. We will leave it up to you to decide what you would most like to learn about. Here are the three options: a market (Mercado Ver-o-Peso), a fort (Forte do Presepio), or a museum and zoo (Museu Emilio Goeldi & Parque Zoobotanico). Here is some information about each place, to help you make your decision. . .
The Mercado Ver-o-Peso is a large market near the waterfront. It is housed in an iron structure that was built in 1901. Many things are sold there, including: fish, medicinal plants, animals, and clothing.
The Forte do Presepio is a fort that was built in 1616. The Portuguese built this fort to protect their upriver territory from the French and Dutch. Now the fort is a musuem about nearby indigenous communities.
The Museu Emilio Geoldi & Parque Zoobotanico is both a museum and zoo. It contains many Amazonian animals, including: manatees, anacondas, jaguars, giant otters, birds, and fish. The museum has many artifacts from ancient Amazonian people.