Bananal Island

Bananal Island

Infobox Islands
name = Bananal



image caption = Landsat image of the northern end of Rio das Mortes-Cristalino peninsula adjoint southwest to Bananal Island by Araguaia river
image size =
locator
Location map|Brazil|lat=-11.333333|long=-50.416667
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native name = "Ilha do Bananal"
native name link = Portuguese language
nickname =
location = Brazil
coordinates = coord|11|20|S|50|25|W|display=inline
archipelago =
total islands =
major islands =
area = convert|19162.25|km2|sqmi|abbr=on
rank = 49th
length =
width =
highest mount =
elevation =
country = Brazil
country admin divisions title = State
country admin divisions = Tocantins
country admin divisions title 1 =
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country admin divisions title 2 =
country admin divisions 2 =
country largest city =
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Bananal Island ( _pt. Ilha do Bananal) is a large island bordered with Araguaia rivers (Araguaia and Braço Menor do Araguaia) in Tocantins, Brazil. The island is formed by a fork in a very flat section of the Araguaia River. When the river forks, the Araguaia continues on the west.

The Bananal Island covers an area of 19,162.25 km², twice the size of Lebanon or Jamaica. It is the largest fluvial island in the world being 350 km long and 55 km wide. [ [http://www.worldislandinfo.com/SUPERLATIVESV2.html Island Superlatives ] ]

In accordance with Article 28 of the Statute of Indian Law (Artigo 28 do Estatuto do Indío-lei) No. 6001 laid out in 19/12/1973, the Bananal Island has been preserved as a national park and indigenous preservation. The northern third of the island is a national park which is a very popular destination for ecotourism. The southern two thirds are reserved as "terra indígena" for the native tribes of the region. Although Brazilians of non-native descent lived on the island in the past, today only natives populate the island.

At least four tribes live on the Bananal Island: the Javaés, Karajá, Ava-Canoeiro, and Tuxá. There are sixteen "aldeias" or villages on the island:

Barra do Rio, Barreira Branca, Boa Esperança, Boto Velho, Cachoeirinha, Fontoura, JK, Kanoanã, Kaxiwe, Macaúba, Santa Isabel, São João, Txoude, Txuiri, Wari-Wari, Watau.

There are no bridges to the island from the states of Tocantins to the east nor from Mato Grosso to the west. For the greater majority of the year, the only transport to the island is by boat. However, for a few weeks during the dry season (Jun-Aug) the river is low enough that the island can be reached by car. The villages have roads wide enough for cars and tractors even though the main forms of transport are by horse, bicycle, and foot.

Statistics

*Area of the Bananal island: 19,162.25 km²
*Area of Parque Nacional do Araguaia: 5,577.26 km²
*Terra Indígena Parque do Araguaia: 13,584.99 km²

References


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  • Bananal Island — ▪ island, Brazil Portuguese  Ilha Do Bananal    island, Tocantins estado (state), central Brazil. The island is formed by the Araguaia River, which for 200 miles (320 km) divides into major (western) and minor (eastern) branches, with Bananal… …   Universalium

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  • Ile de Bananal — Île de Bananal Ilha do Bananal, sanctuaire écologique. L île de Bananal (Ilha do Bananal en portugais) se trouve au Brésil, dans l État du Tocantins au milieu de deux très larges bras du rio Araguaia. Elle est la plus grande île fluviale au monde …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Ilha do Bananal — Île de Bananal Ilha do Bananal, sanctuaire écologique. L île de Bananal (Ilha do Bananal en portugais) se trouve au Brésil, dans l État du Tocantins au milieu de deux très larges bras du rio Araguaia. Elle est la plus grande île fluviale au monde …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Île de bananal — Ilha do Bananal, sanctuaire écologique. L île de Bananal (Ilha do Bananal en portugais) se trouve au Brésil, dans l État du Tocantins au milieu de deux très larges bras du rio Araguaia. Elle est la plus grande île fluviale au monde avec une… …   Wikipédia en Français

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  • Araguaia River — River, central Brazil. Rising in the Brazilian highlands, it flows north some 1,600 mi (2,600 km) to join the Tocantins River at São João do Araguaia. In midcourse it divides into channels on either side of Bananal Island, which is about 200 mi… …   Universalium

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