Some of this area is within the Amazon lowlands, but most of Amapá and French Guiana are in the Guiana Highlands, the Atlantic edge is part of the Coastal Plain, and southern Pará is within the Central Highlands. The Amazon lowlands and the Coastal Plain meet at the Amazon delta with its huge islands, especially Marajó(4). The low Tumu-Humac(5) and the slightly taller Acarai mountains separate the Amazon watershed from rivers flowing north. Spines of the highlands extend through the centers of French Guiana and Amapá. Southern Pará includes the Cachimbo and Carajás Mountains.
Character of the Amazon lowlandsThe Amazon River(6)'s lower course crosses Para. The left (north) bank receives the Trombetas, the Paru and the Jari. The right bank adds the Tapajós and the Xingu. The Amazon shares an estuary with the Pará, with its main distributaries flowing north of Marajó and the Pará forming the southern and eastern bound of the island. The Tocantins(7) flows into the Pará after entering Pará State from the east and flowing through the Tucurui Reservoir, one of South America's largest lakes.
Other notable rivers are the Maroni(8) along the western border of French Guiana, the Oyapock or Oiyapoque marking part of the overseas department's eastern border, the Araguari just north of the Amazon, and the Gurupi which separates northeastern Para from Maranhao.
In common with Brazil generally
Belém, the capital of Pará State, has over a million residents, its metropolitan area over two million. It sits near the Pará's mouth, and is known for its large Paz (Peace) Theater and its present and former churches.
Major language groups(9) still extent are Arawakan--specifically the Maipura group, Carib, Tupi and Macro-Ge--Specifically the Northwest Ge group(10). There are also a few unclassified languages.
Speculation about Tupi languages
Portugese and French speakers began arriving in the 16th century, and indiginous populations dwindled from disease, slavery and exploitation in the rubber industry. Most indiginous people adopted Roman Catholic Christianity, and many switched their family language to Portuguese.
northeast
southeast of northern Pará
southeast and south of southern Pará
west of Pará
north of northwest Pará
west of French Guiana
France and its possessions
Brazil
South America
(1) Officially Brasil since the late 19th century.
(2) Norte in Portuguese.
(3) Guiane française in French.
(4) South America's second largest island.
(5) Tumucumaque in French.
(6) Amazonas in Spanish or Portuguese. It is the worlds second longest river, South America's longest.
(7) The Pará-Tocantins together constitute South America's sixth or seventh longest river.
(8) Marawijne in Dutch.
(9) Joseph Greenberg would classify all pre-Columbian Brazilian language groups together as Amerindian.
(10) Carib and Macro-Ge are sometimes considered part of a Ge-Pano-Carib group.