Cities, Rivers and Urban network in the Brazilian Amazon.

Abstract

One important axis of analysis has been missing in the studies on the urbanization of the Brazilian Amazon: the western section. In order to understand the urbanization process in this area a methodology was established and the urban network along the rivers Solimões-Amazon analysed. This methodology is based on the analysis of institutional frameworks such as demographic data, education, health, food prices, housing prices, public finance and security, products extracted from the forest and other relevant data. A city typology, that takes into consideration the relationship inter and intra-city, was created permitting new approaches to the understanding of the urban processes in the area. This paper will present the methodology of the research; the results obtained from field work; the typology proposed and discusses how the analysis of the urban network is necessary for establishing a socio-ecological sustainable and effective territorial management in the region.

Key Words: urban network; city typology; river Solimões-Amazonas; Amazonas; Brazil.