The Fate of the First Streams of Manaus

A Historical and Cartographic Analysis

Abstract

Objective – To investigate what occurred to the first ten streams in the city of Manaus.

Methodology – Qualitative research based on historical-documentary survey, comparative cartographic analysis, and observation of the urban landscape.

Originality/Relevance – The study fills a theoretical gap by relating the transformation of streams to the impacts of urbanization and climate change in Amazonian cities.

Results – Most of the streams analyzed were filled in and canalized, and the areas where they once flowed now coincide with flood-prone zones during extreme flood events. The larger streams lose navigability during extreme droughts.

Theoretical/Methodological Contributions – The research highlights the importance of incorporating hydrological memory into urban planning, proposing a reinterpretation of the interventions on streams in Manaus.

Social and Environmental Contributions – Reinforces the need for public policies that value streams as ecological, cultural, scenic, and functional elements for a city more resilient to climate change.