Bonfim () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

located in the mideast of the state of

Roraima Roraima (, ) is one of the 26 states of Brazil. Located in the country's North Region, it is the northernmost and most geographically and logistically isolated state in Brazil. It is bordered by the state of Pará to the southeast, Amazonas ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. Its population is 12,557 and its area is 8,095 km². The city lies opposite the

Takutu River The Takutu River (Takatu River, Tacutu River) is a river in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo Region of Guyana and Roraima in Brazil. It forms part of the boundary between the two countries. The confluence of the Takutu and Uraricoera Rivers form ...

from

Lethem, Guyana Lethem is a town in Guyana, located in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo region. It is the regional capital of Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo. It is named after Sir Gordon James Lethem, who was the Governor of British Guiana from 1941 to 12 April ...

. The

Takutu River Bridge The Takutu River Bridge ( pt, Ponte do Rio Tacutu) is a bridge across the Takutu River, linking Lethem, Guyana, Lethem in Guyana to Bonfim, Roraima, Bonfim in Brazil. It was completed in 2009 and opened on 31 July 2009. Its official inauguration ...

links Bonfim and Roraima with the town of Lethem and the Atlantic port of

Georgetown, Guyana Georgetown is the capital (political), capital and largest city of Guyana. It is situated in Demerara-Mahaica, region 4, on the Atlantic Ocean coast, at the mouth of the Demerara River. It is nicknamed the "Garden City of the Caribbean." It is t ...

Overview

In 1775, the Portuguese built Fort São Joaquim at the confluence of the

Uraricoera The Uraricoera River (Uraricuera) is a river of Roraima state in northern Brazil. The confluence of the Uraricoera and Takutu Rivers forms the Branco River. Basin The river drains the Guayanan Highlands moist forests ecoregion. Part of the river' ...

and the

to prevent the Dutch from advancing into the area. The ruins of the fort can still be seen. In 1790, the Amerindians revolted, and the Portuguese retreated from the region. Bonfim started with the compound of a religious mission from the United States. On 1 July 1982 it became a municipality by Federal Bill Nº 7.009. On 28 March 2007 it was declared a free port for international trade by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Moscou em Bonfim

The municipality is home to Amerindians of the

Wapishana The Wapishana or Wapichan (or Wapisiana, Wapitxana, Vapidiana, Wapixana) are an indigenous group found in the Roraima area of northern Brazil and southern Guyana. Location Currently the Wapishana are located in the State of Roraima, Brazil, nort ...

and

Macushi The Macushi ( pt, Macuxi) are an indigenous people living in the borderlands of southern Guyana, northern Brazil in the state of Roraima, and in an eastern part of Venezuela. Identification The Macushi are also known as the Macusi, Macussi, Ma ...

tribes who live in the Wapixana, Macuxi, and Jabuti Indigenous Territories. Many of the indigenous community are tri-lingual speaking their own language, Portuguese and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

. The economy is mainly based on livestock in particular

cattle ranching A ranch (from es, rancho/Mexican Spanish) is an area of land, including various structures, given primarily to ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle and sheep. It is a subtype of a farm. These terms are most often ...

and agriculture which an emphasis on cassava, bananas and cashew.

Transport

Bonfim is connected to the

BR-401 BR-401 is a federal highway in the state of Roraima in Brazil. The road connects Boa Vista, Roraima, Boa Vista with Normandia, Roraima, Normandia and the road network of Guyana. The over the Branco River was completed on 29 August 1975. The Ta ...

which links the road network of Guyana to Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima, located 115 kilometres from Bonfim.

References

External links

Official site
(in Portuguese) * {{Municipalities of Roraima Municipalities in Roraima Brazil–Guyana border crossings