Amapá

Amapa is a state in the far north of Brazil, on the Amazon's northern bank and the Atlantic, bordering French Guiana and Suriname. Its capital is Macapa, which sits directly on the Equator. Heavily forested and sparsely populated, it is one of Brazil's most pristine and remote states.

Amapa is covered by Amazon rainforest, mangroves and savanna, fronting the Atlantic where the Amazon meets the sea. The Equator runs through its capital. The climate is hot and humid equatorial.

Amapa's culture blends Amazonian, Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous influences, with the marabaixo drumming tradition and a strong connection to the river and forest. The Equator is celebrated as a local landmark.

Long contested between France and Portugal, the territory was confirmed as Brazilian in 1900 after international arbitration. It became a federal territory and then a state in 1988, retaining vast protected rainforest.