Carnival in Rio a Short History

A short history of the Rio Carnival

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Life is a short affair celebrate it

It is an inborn nature of people to revel at times, forgetting the pains and problems of day today life. All cultures have provided to release this human desire at varying extents; some of the societies suppress it; some control it; while some simply unleash it for sheer celebration!

Brazilians belong to the third group; no inhibitions; no taboos; sheer celebrations unlimited; it doesn’t matter whether it is Carnival, Samba or soccer they are ready for a cheer. It is carnival season that lasts only four days; they have chosen to let their passions fly. Let’s see the various shapes this festival acquired with the changing times.

An ever evolving fest

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

The word carnival (carnaval in Portuguese) has its origin from Italian word ‘Carnevale’ and Medieval Latin ‘Carne levamen’ (carn = flesh + lavare = put away) as during Lent when flesh eating was considered taboo.

It is believed that the carnival celebrations had its origin back from the Roman times and was associated with the spring festival; when it was warm and flowers all around and youngsters were busy in courtships. People assembled in the temple for God Saturn and observed (Saturnalis worshipping Baco and Momo the ancient Pagan deities) and a mass feast organized along with other rituals.

From there this ritual traveled along with the Romans to various places in Europe. In the beginning in Europe it was a pure celebration to revel in the warm climate. It had nothing to do with god or any religion. The following are some of the forms the Carnival acquired during the course of time.

Baptized

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

The Portuguese got it from the Romans or rather Romans took it to there; later when Christianity engulfed the whole of Europe this festival got connected with Christianity and its timings matched with the observation of Lent (the Lent is a liturgical season for Christians dedicated to spirituality when fasting, avoiding eating meat etc are observed) that comes before Easter.

In the beginning the church was dead against this sort of reveling, they tried to dissuade people from taking part in Carnivals. Believers did not pay attention to the ban and later the church had to adopt it as their own. Thus carnival got accepted as an outlet to indulge in pleasures as much as one like and come clean for observing Lent that mandated keeping away from physical pleasures like eating meat and wandering around evading church services. Carnival came handy as a celebration saying bye to pleasures by seeking it extremely for those 4 days allotted to it!

Entrudo

It is believed that the carnival entered in to Portugal in the 15^th century; how it got this name? One version is this as it marks the ‘entry’ of Lent season it is called Entrudo, the other version is this pouring of water and oranges filled with foul water made the authorities ban the festival and some revelers ‘intruded’ or sneaked in to the streets to revel! Thus the reveling by the intruders became known as Entrudo. The first recorded observation of carnival was in 1723.

The description of Entrudo before its ban was as follows; people took bucketful of water and lime and even rotten oranges to the streets and poured or threw it on everybody who happened to be around, initially even emperors used to take part in this fun, but a woman spoiled the whole sport by throwing lime at the emperor’s convoy, she was consequently arrested and the celebration itself got banned; even before this incident the reveling had got degraded in to a public nuisance.

The better-half’s role

The first recorded celebration of Rio Carnival is in 1840 when the wife of Italian ambassador to Brazil arranged a carnival in Rio, a ball was held in a hall decorated with streamers. Musicians and dancers were invited to the grand gala function that set a trend in celebration. It created some lasting reflections in Brazilian minds and paved way for better and more participatory programs from less privileged sections of the society.

Ze Pereira

This was one version introduced by a Portuguese man by name Jose Nogueira; he along with accomplices marched through the streets on carnival Mondays playing tambourines, drums, whistles and whatever instruments available, everybody was welcome to join his troupes and play whatever he could. Kitchen utensils even where used for this popular orchestra!

Grandes Sociedades or Upper Circle

The big guns of the Rio City also had their share in shaping the carnival in to its present shape; it was a well organized show in which about eighty bourgeois paraded with masks, flowers, fancy dresses music and everything that could catch attention; it turned out to be big hit. Democraticos, Fenianos etc were the well known groups associated with this show that debuted in 1855.

Cardao Carnavalesco

By 1870 a new theme by name cardao carnavalesco appeared in the Rio streets, in which poor people dressed as kings, queens, princes, or rich people while rich ones were in the costumes of Gypsies, peasants or street dancers etc. Without distinction of class or race all danced, sung performed as they were dressed. The equality among classes lasted as long as the carnival lasted that was all! Poor kings and queens returned to their huts while the rich Gypsies went back to their real business.

Cardoes de Velhos

It was associated with Cardao Carnavalesco in which people used to wear large and often bizarre masks and walked through the streets as if they are unable to dance and sing!

Ranchos Carnavalesco

It was introduced by an immigrant from Bahia by name Hilario Jovino; and gained popularity as a festival of the poor people; in which people dressed in glittering dresses marched through the streets playing numerous string instruments along with playing flutes etc. This gained much popularity during the early period of the 20^th century.

Corso

This is some what recent as it began in the early 20^th century; its significance is that for the first time cars were used for the parades. These cars were decorated with multicolor streamers and revelers showered confetti on the spectators. The car owners where thrilled all of them let their cars take part in the parade.

Cariocas

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

A history of the Rio Carnival never goes complete without mentioning the ‘Cariocas’ this word may sound strange but its history is stranger. The Portuguese living in Brazil lived in houses built in clusters, natives called them white houses or cariocas; being inhabited by white people. Being called by natives as cariocas; the Portuguese began to address themselves cariocas!

Time changed now the cariocas need not be whites, or Portuguese, religion or race has nothing to do with the present day Cariocas, they are jolly youngsters spending their time singing or dancing or just playing. These people are fashionable always ready to help others and always move in company. Any one is welcome to their groups provided he has some time (a lot of time) to spare and ready to roam about the streets and beaches chatting and laughing! Without these Cariocas not just the Carnival season but whole the city of Rio will lose its sheen; it will be like any other city in the world!

Street Carnival, Bandas

In early times the carnival celebrations were held in theaters or in the houses of rich people, laymen had only a chance to see it from outdoors, the street version is not an organized affair. Each of the streets has its on ‘Banda’ a club of smart young men who perform orchestra and marches along the streets through predetermined routes. They play instruments and sing well known carnival hits in the streets everybody is welcome for merrymaking. They wear special T shirts for the occasion; a visitor need not stay away for want of such a shirt; it will be available on the spot for as little as ten bucks; just buy it and join the company!

Blocos

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

Blocos are like the Bandas (small groups of young men who live around a street) but they select a theme song for the march unlike the Bandas who sing popular hits. They do rehearsals before the evens and these rehearsals are adding much fervor to the main event. They as a team wear T shirts that have common theme for the main event. There are more than 100 Blocos in Rio!

Samba Parade

The Samba music and Samba Schools are all recent phenomena, but they have become an integral part of Rio Carnival as well as the whole life of Brazil. Samba is not played in streets as Street Carnival; it has a place called the ‘Sambdrome’ entry is also restricted by heavily priced tickets. One who visits Brazil during Rio Carnival season should at least once witness this grand show; it is worth its ticket’s cost!

Carnival will never die!

History of Carnival of Rio de Janeiro Brazil

The independent Brazilian government was not keen to follow the colonist celebrations but people went on rioting to get their favorite celebration get endorsed by the government. At last the government had to yield before the public wish and carnival came back to Rio with more spice and fervor!

Since then the celebration has undergone much metamorphosis as immigrants to Brazil from various cultures enriched it with imparting their own color and versions to it. During the World War the carnival had to be stopped for a brief spell, but soon after the war it was restarted in 1947. There is no spice to Rio without carnival and samba, though carnival made samba famous the samba has of late gained its own place in the sun.

The carnival will never die; it has an instinct to evolve as per the change of time. The money it fetches to the Brazilian tourism industry is tremendous and it keeps on increasing, to the tourists who spent the money brings its worth; what they can see at Rio is the greatest cultural event in the world and it does not fence them out as mere spectators; they can join the events and be a part of the greatest show, what else money can fetch!

Rio Carnival

Carnival of Rio, Brazil

Release the static energy

Festivals and affiliated rituals have been part and parcel of all cultures; more rich the culture rituals and performances become deep and often mind boggling. Occasions to revel are provided by the society as a vent for the static energy accumulated that may otherwise turn to its disaster. Brazil is a very big nation with an equally rich culture, even the Inca culture which has left its marks in various parts of South America is thousands of years old that could not be completely destroyed by the long colonial rule.

Very much in the blood

The Rio Carnival was initially banned by the Brazilian government like the Church tried to ban it in the early 18^th century. Brazilians did not wait hands down for its re approval they rioted in the street until dear celebration was restored. All attempts to ban this ‘phenomenon’ have failed and will fail it has a role in the society and the people need it badly. The World War also had its impact and carnival had to be stopped; soon after the war in 1947 itself the carnival was reintroduced; it had to be; because it has got so much associated with the Brazilian blood.

Rio’s masterpiece

The city of Rio that has credit of being home to most of the world wonders like the statue of Christ the Redeemer, world’s largest natural Harbour of Rio, River Amazon, Pantanal, worlds largest fresh water wet land, Samba music etc but the carnival stands out as its masterpiece among its jewels and as the main event among all Brazil can offer. It is just a four day celebration that starts in a Saturday before Lent at the peak of summer (about 7 weeks before Easter) and ends in the next Tuesday known as the Mardi-gras or Fat Tuesday.

History of Carnival

In its long history the carnival has undergone many changes to take the present shape and form. The elites of the Rio society imported the celebration from Portugal to Rio in 1845. Later these festivals came down from their ivory towers to the Rio’s streets for working class, former slaves and the masses. The way it is conducted, the venues, the music played, the style of the dances etc have changed in accordance to the new participants and the new onlookers. Entrudo, Ze Pereira, Grandos Sociedades, Cardo Carnavalasco, Ranchos, Corso etc are all the forms it had undergone in its non-stop evolution.

A four-day affair

The Carnival is a four day affair that starts before the Lent in a Saturday (49 days before Easter Sunday) and ends in the proceeding Fat Tuesday. After carnival the liturgical period of Lent comes which requires abstinence from bodily pleasures like eating meat, merry making skipping church mass etc are to be given a pause. In the peek of summer even ordinary people slip into a festive mood what to say about Rio’s own care free cariocas; it is they who give flesh and blood to the whole celebration of Carnival. Without these pleasure and leisure loving Cariocas Rio will look as ‘ordinary’ as any other monotonous cities in the world.

Greatest Cultural event of the world

There are many carnivals observed in Brazil as well as all over the world; of which the most noted one is undoubtedly that held in Rio de Janeiro; the Capital of Brazil; Rio Carnival is also acclaimed as the greatest cultural event in the world. Though commercialized to the extreme; it still retains much of the spontaneity of the care-free people who live around Rio. Bahia, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais are places where carnivals are celebrated. When people of a locality assemble form a club and set to the street to sing and dance it is only spontaneity that has nothing to do with commerce.

There are differences between these festivals from place to place for example in Bahia big floats carry teams playing ‘Trio Electrico’ and large number of people dressed as Red Indians follow singing Samba and Reggae and axe music. Most of the music expresses the emotions of the down trodden people and their resent to racism they experienced during the colonial era.

Where as the state of Pernambuca have more than one place for carnival Recife (capital) and the city of Olinda. Here the music played is mainly Frevo, Maracatu, Galo da Madrugada etc. Racife has the credit of celebrating the biggest carnival in the world in terms of the number of participants and its name is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Street Carnival

The real carnival lives on the Rio streets, it is a people’s affair no tickets for entry, no walls or gates and each street and suburbs have their own orchestra and dancers and singers. In fact everybody sings and drums and dance to the Samba rhythm.

There are Blocos, the Bandas who take the lead; some of the troupes march through the streets while some of them get stationed in a square or junction and go on singing and dancing; every one is welcome to this show of the masses!

Copacabana, Jardim Botanico, Leblon, Lagoa, Ipanema as well as the center of Rio are venues for the blocos. The most popular bloco that marches in Suvaco do Cristo (Christ armpit in Portuguese, under statue Christ the Redeemer) is O Cordao do Bola Preta.

Blocos and Bandas!

There is no special dress or logo or T shirt mandatory but the blocos and bandas wear the T shirts with special themes, visitors can have it for as little as 12 bucks on the spot and merge in the gang. These T shirts can work as an excellent trophy back home; in fact it is this free for all situations that generate a thrill among the players and the people on the sidelines who spontaneously become a part of it. After the festival a tourist does not return not just as a mere spectator but as a part of it.

Transvestism

Men dressed in female clothes and playing roles is common to most of the cultural festivities; in carnival also that is a common practice. In early times even the ‘Baianas’ (a lady chosen to play the central stage in cultural festivals; it has been present in the carnival also for a long time) were transvestite men! These men were generally experts in ‘Copoeira’ a traditional performance which involve techniques of martial arts as well as dance. It can be said as a Brazil’s own form of martial art)

Sambadrome

Samba is not a Street Carnival it has a venue of its own the Sambadrome one of the biggest in the world built in March 2 1984, before its construction the function was held in various locations. The great art of Samba is an integral part of a Brazilian; there are so many Samba Schools for its performance. They rehearse throughout the year for the performance; all members of Samba School participate in it.

Whether as song writer, singer or dancer; each of the members of the school gets an opportunity to express his creative skills even if he is not accomplished any of these. Samba Schools are not educational institutions but just clubs formed of people of the neighborhood.

Samba Parade

Of all the items of the Rio Carnival; Samba Parade the most sought after program; it is not just music but a combination drums, dance and music and revelry; an expression of hidden passions and a cry of the oppressed. Huge floats move with the Samba Queen seated in the middle; in her most expensive and the sexiest costumes. It is she the cynosure of the shows; rather the darling of the voyeurs! Every man has a hidden voyeur in him; if not convinced; come to Rio during carnival or blame it on Rio!

The Samba troops playing music, while crowds dressed in customary Indian costumes with rags and feather head gears follow it singing dancing to the Samba tunes. There are also costumes adapted from the African tribes singing the rhythms of their great grand parents would have sung and dancing to the tribal tunes. While those on the sidelines and galleries also cheer sing and dance; because it is the Samba Parade a part of the Rio Carnival where spectators are partners! All said and done the carnival is an unforgettable audio and visual feast for the visitors to cherish.

Miser! Go Concentration to save

For those who cannot afford the heavy tickets there is one way; the Concentration; which is an open area where the schools line up for the parade, see them free and take as many photos as you wish. Wait until night go to the Terreirao do Samba where there is Rio Folia with free music and dance celebrate with the cariocas; here you are the real player not as a paid spectator as in the Sambadrome. Buy as many theme T shirts with the money you saved skipping Sambadrome and bring them back home as prized trophies!

Pantanal

Pantanal, Brazil

Pantanal image courtesy: wikipedia.org

The Mother all Swamps

When we talk of Brazil the word ‘the world’s largest’ has to be commonly used; like th Harbour of Rio the world’s largest natural port, Christ the Redeemer the statue, Amazon the largest river and largest tropical forest, Carnival world’s largest cultural event etc. Pantanal is not different as it is the world’s largest fresh water wetland far bigger than any comparable place. There are so many rivers that flow through this area which lies slightly slanted. The strange thing about this fresh water wetland is that until recently only movie people knew about its existence, still it is not getting the attention it deserves.

A sea within land

Pantanal image courtesy: ramsar.org

It is said that early explorers to this region took it for a sea seeing the flooded Pantanal! The word ‘Pantanal’ originated from Portuguese word ‘pantano’ meaning marsh land. The Pantanal is 190,000 sq km in area and its major portion comes under Brazil (in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul Provinces) and a minor portion in under Bolivia and Paraguay. During rainy seasons; 80% of its area gets submerged under water forming a miniature sea within land.

Amazon snatched its title

This unique eco system is home to world’s most diverse varieties of plants. This credit of hosting the largest variety of plants and animals is generally attributed to Amazon Forests that being more researched due its accessibility. This title is actually due to Pantanal as it hosts greater number of animals and plants. It is the inaccessibility of these marshy Pantanal areas that made it less popular among scientists and naturalists and consequently deprived it the due status.

A crater that got filled

Pantanal can be described as a gigantic reservoir with the size of the State of Florida that stores the water that flows through the Paraguay and many other big and small rivers that flow from the hilly areas of Plan Alta. As per the geologists Pantanal had been a gigantic crater that got filled by the silt these rivers have deposited for millions of years that have passed.

Boundaries

Pantanal, brazil map courtesy: encyclopedia britannica

Majority of the Pantanal area belongs to Brazil with Bolivia and Paraguay sharing the rest. It is located in the western edge of Brazil with arid forests in the western and north western boundaries, degraded forests (Arid Chaco) in the south west, Wet Chaco in the southern border and its north, Cerrado Savannah in the east and south-east.

Giant sponge

The Pantanal is compared to a giant sponge above 300 feet above sea level; which equals the state of Kansas in size; that sucks water from over flowing rivers and stores it for the livelihood of its inhabitants; without which the water would have directly flown in to the sea and become useless. The rainy season is between Decembers to May (rainfall 100 to 140 cm); during these times water level in Pantanal may rise up to 3 meters. This gigantic marsh land is not just a storehouse of pure water on earth but it purifies water by storing in open and let the impurities percolate and let it flow to be used by people and numerous living things that inhabits in this area.

A unique eco system

Pantanal swamp image courtesy: earthwatchonline.com

Those who are interested in watching wild life in its natural settings no place offers so much of them, the biodiversity of this area is astonishing 3500 species of plants, 650 species of birds, 400 species of fish, 100 species of mammals, 80 species of reptiles are just some of the inhabitants of this wonderful land. It is believed that about 10 million of crocodiles live here comfortably. Pantanal is home to the famous ‘Hyacinth Macaw’ a parrot like bird which is included in the ‘endangered list’; it is said that a pair of this bird fetches about $ 10,000 in the black market.

hyacinth macaw pantanal image courtesy: ecotourismblog.com

10 million crocodiles to guard!

Animals like capybaras, caimans (about 30 million), jaguars, giant otters, giants of snakes like the famous anacondas, birds like kites, hawks, storks, hyacinth macaws, all are there as much as you can count, you never can count the crocodiles that live around it is more than 10 million! In Fazenda of Rio Negro alone biologists have discovered about 25 species of snakes 11 species of lizards and 400 varieties of birds!

Pantanal crocodile image courtesy: safaris-botswana.com

The life cycle that goes on!

During rain as rivers rise to swallow the plains farmers who use this land for grazing cattle retreat to higher places, fish and amphibians have happy times; mammals and other animals seek asylum on hillocks found here and there but plants and trees which can’t move face the tide they are adapted to flooding and grow as usual. When water starts to recede the reverse is the order, mammals are a happy lot they roam free, while poor fish get trapped in to some puddles to be eaten by predators; and the farmers come back with their cattle. This cycle goes on repeating every year.

Let Pantanal live!

Though bestowed with so many animals and plants Pantanal is not a tourist spot, there are very few roads to travel and the place remains submerged for about 5months in a year; swamps infested with crocodiles. The region of late has become victim to human interference like cattle grazers, gold miners and iron and steel plant that uses charcoal of burned trees from the locality as raw material etc.

Amazon River

River Amazon South America

Amazon river image courtesy: braziltravel.com

The very name may send chill in your spine too!

Those naked tall single breasted women shouting war-cry with pointed arrows set to shoot at you to kill! Fortunately this legendary Amazone is not this Amazon despite the similarity in names. Long time ago Francisco de Orellana led an exploration team to the Amazon Basins. The aim of the ‘exploration’ was a very ‘innocent’ one; to catch some tribals to be sold as slaves in the western market!

Unfortunately the ‘exploration’ turned out to a disaster and the ‘explorers’ had to flee for life when tribals attacked them with bows and arrows. Women also were there among the tribals. On return the team members told stories of a strange land with ferocious women like those lived in the legendary land of Amazone. It is said that Amazon River System got its name from their stories.

Some spice in a story!

The story said above is a popular one explaining how the river and the basin got so named; in fact the origin of the word amazone is elsewhere. ‘Hamazan’ in Ionian language means ‘fight in group’ as these tribals fought in group including men, women and children; that word was apt for the tribe’s behavior. Their neighboring tribes as well as those who were victims of their ferocity called them amazans as the Ionians did not aspirate the first syllable (ha of hamazan and was pronounced as amazan).

The real stuff!

The word ‘amazon’ in Greek means breast-less (a = no or without and mazon = breast); those women were fierce warriors of a legendary country; who kept their men indoors and took on the foes with bows and arrows! They were tall, brave, gymnastic, and extremely ferocious. So dedicated to warfare that they used to amputate their left breast so that it doesn’t interfere with arrow aiming! (Some women characters of the recent movies must be out of the legends in their depiction; ferocity in women some way gives men some arousal). The ‘spice part’ in the story added to the popularity and the myth became an instant hit; that’s all!

The mother of all rivers!

Amazon river image courtesy: andrew.com

By the total volume of water delivered per second Amazon is the god of all rivers; it is the life-blood of Brazil as Nile is to Africa. The Nile of Egypt is historically accepted as longer than Amazon. Recent study conducted by scientists taking Nevado Mismi as the source proved that Amazon is 6259 to 6800 km long; that means that Amazon must be about 110 km longer than Nile.

Nile, please excuse!

The length of the river is considered a national pride and the statement that Amazon is longer than Nile may hurt River Nile and the national pride of the Egyptians; but they have the credit of having the most of the wonders in the world like the Pyramids, Timbuktu, Northern Red Sea, Aswan dam etc; when natural and manmade wonders are taken there is no end to the candidates from Egypt!

Quantity matters

But length is nothing it is the quantity of water that matters; whole water of Nile coupled with the water of Ganges of India and Yangtze of China does not equal that of Amazon river! The basin of Amazon is the largest in the world and the water carried by this gigantic river to the Atlantic Ocean 0.3 million cubic meters per second! About one fifth of the total water received by all oceans combined!

The long march from Apacheta to the Atlantic

Amazon river map courtesy: encyclopedia britannica

The starts its course from the Apacheta Cliff, Nevado Mismi Mount at Arequepa of Peru in the Andes Ranges and reaches Brazil flowing through Peru and Columbia; it covers a total distance of 6570 km in its journey. The Peruvians call the portion of the river Mara none. Amazon is the recipient of the waters of a thousand tributaries; the major ones are Mara none of Peru, Japura and Rio Negro etc on the left side and Purus, Madeira, Tapajos and Xingu etc on the right side. When these entire rivers join to form the mighty Amazon it becomes such a phenomenon that it is called a river-sea, so vast that no bridge cross it!

Life-blood of the rain forest

Brazil is a large country with world’s largest river systems; it has eight river systems of which the Amazon River System created by Amazon and its tributaries is the biggest which supplies water to more than 45% area of Brazil. Amazon which is formed when River Ukayali merges with River Mara none; it may be about 40 meters deep during rainy seasons and at places it maybe 6 to 10 km in breadth. In its long course this river diverges and remerges at places forming many river islands. This big river and its tributaries together nourish the largest and the densest rain forest on earth called The Amazon Forest.

The Amazon Forest

The densest forest endowed with the world’s most wonderful varieties of plants, birds and animals; it has about 1000 plant varieties, 2000 bird species and more than 2.5 million types of insects along with thousands of fish species that live in this unique eco-system. About one fifth of the whole varieties of living things are found in the Amazon. As per experts one sq km of Amazon forest contain 75,000 verities of trees, 15,000 types of plants, all the more there will be 90,000 tons of plants per sq km! The carbon dioxide consumed and oxygen released by these plants worth several billions of dollars; but there is no one see things in that angle.

The exotic inhabitants

Amazon river fish image courtesy: thefloridafishingguide.com

Some of them very exclusive alone are mentioned below; Amazon River Dolphin known as Boto which grows up to 2.5 meters in length found in Orinoco; the largest river dolphin, Piranha – the most aggressive carnivorous fish which hunt in groups and leave even a man as a skeleton within minutes, Bull shark (zambi) aggressive river shark found upstream, Arapaima the largest fresh water fish, Anaconda; the largest snake on earth which live of swamps and can swallow even a fully grown goat as such are just some of them.

The mouth

Mouth of the Amazon River

If the origin and the course of this great river are so eventful how will be it at the time of its merger with the Atlantic Ocean, there also Amazon does not go un-noticed! It makes more than one world’s number one events. Its estuary extents from Cabo do Norte to Punto Patijoca; together with estuary of the Para River (the southern fork of the Amazon) is 330 km wide and the area belongs to the state of Para Brazil. This estuary has the credit of owning the largest island on earth that is covered with fresh water; please remember the southern side of the island is in the Atlantic Ocean!

Marajo Island

The largest marine fluvial island on earth surrounded by fresh water although its north east coast in the Atlantic. This big island is 47573 sq km in area and a part ‘Para’ a State in Brazil. Although the island in partly in the sea; the outflow of the Amazon River is so strong that salt water is kept kilometers away. People can drink water from the sea because it is as fresh as the water that is available in your house water tap!

Marajo Island is not only a tourist spot but also a center of ancient Pre Columbian culture called the Marajoara Culture; remnants of ceramics belonging to that period have been retrieved from here. Marajo has inhabited eastern side with cultivated lands and the western side with forests and swamps. It has a variety of animals like monkeys, anacondas, capibaras (wild rodents with semi aquatic habits often grown for food) and alligators and birds like eagles, flamingoes, herons, parrots. Fishing is also a flourishing job.

Red Tide

Red Tide, or Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB)

A "red tide" off the coast of La Jolla, California.

Its name a misnomer!

Red Tide is a natural phenomenon where water banks get colored due to concentration of certain types of algae known as phyto- planktons. The excessive presence of these algae (about several millions per liter of sea water) causes dense and visible patches on water surface and hence the name red tide.

This phenomenon need not always be red; it can be yellow, brown, red or even black. But a reddish tinge is generally associated with it. As red tide has no connection with tides (tides being yet another process); the word Red Tide remains a misnomer. Present day scientists mostly use the word Harmful Algae Bloom or HAB. Where the bloom is not toxic it is referred to as just algae bloom but the most preferred word still remains Red Tide.

Phyto planktons

bioluminescent phytoplankton

Phyto-planktons or dinoflagellates are unicellular (single celled) organisms which move wagging two hair like growths called flagella. These organisms multiply fast and their growth is determined by temperature, salinity and depth of the water where they live.

Most of them are capable of photosynthesis and have colored pigmented for the purpose. Some are color less predators they dependent other animals for food. Certain species of the dinoflagellates like zoxanthellae are endosymbionts which like inside the body of corals polyps; while they produce food for the corals they get free lodging in the coral body. The strange thing with association is this that the death of the host spells the end of the guests!

First reported by Cabeza de Vaca

The Red Tide is a natural phenomenon that has been there from time immemorial but the earliest written record is believed to be that of Cabeza de Vaca the famous Spanish explorer who had written about it. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca was an explorer of the 15^th century (he is known for his proto anthropological works, he is also acclaimed as the explorer of the new world).

An intriguing phenomenon!

Usually nature keeps a balance among its beings if there are fast multiplying plants there will be herbivores to control them. If there are too many herbivores there will be predators to control them. Scientists have not been so far able to come with a clear explanation why these poisonous algae explode to such strength quite detrimental to other beings of the sea, which is not agreeing with the balancing of nature’s forces.

Some of the hypothesis point finger towards man made as well as natural forces like global warming, the cloud storms from Sahara that dump iron rich particles etc, they are yet establish the roles played by them beyond doubt.

Florida Red Tide

An article on Red Tide is not complete without a reference on the Florida Tide that occurs every year as a routine during late summer or early fall. It is most prominent off Florida between Clean water and Sanibal Island.

The main villain among 40 other algae which are found here is the ‘Florida Red Tide Organism’ ( Karena brevis) a single celled organism produces a neurotoxin called the brevetoxin (that causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning or NSP)that moves wagging two whip like hairs known as flagella. They feed upon the chemical effluents from the River Mississippi and multiply fast to make the sea brown or reddish.

In the Bay of Fundy

In the Gulf of Maine located near the Bay of Fundy (which is famous for its high tides and naturally carved statues); there is yet other alga by name Alexandreum fundyence (which is also a Dinoflagellate like Karena brevis) that causes a red tide (HAB) -in 1972 these algae caused a Red Tide in New England. The toxin produced by A. fundyence make the filter feeding shellfish toxic (due to saxitoxin) leading to death of those who consume it.

Reasons for this bloom

bioluminescent red tide event of 2005 at a beach in Carlsbad California

The usual reasons cited for all the evils of the world are global warming, disappearance of the tropical forests, holes on the ozone layer are cited for this algal bloom also. There has been one reason cited as the most prominent one is the effluents from the River Mississippi that carries the nutrients used for farming in its surrounding areas in to the sea that supply the much needed compounds like nitrates and phosphates for the rapid growth of the algae. The impact of El Nino is also cited as a strong case for the Algal bloom.

El Nino

This phenomenon has been in the circulation during September, 2006 with the onset of one strong El Nino. The word means ‘little boy’ meaning child Christ; as it usually affects during Christmas times in the Pacific.

El Nino is prominent in the Pacific Ocean off the West Coast of South America. It was first reported in 1923 by Gilbert Thomas Walker. He also has the credit of describing the Walker Circulation yet another Pacific phenomenon which has named after him. El Nino has been said to be responsible for distributing rainfall and any upset in its course or other variations can cause excess rain fall in one place and deficits in yet another place.

The menace of Red Tide

The name Red Tide called to this phenomenon is apt as it is a danger signal as the color red. These algae that bloom during the Red Tide are mostly poisonous and are called Harmful Algal Bloom or HAB by the scientists.

These toxins contained by these algae are also of different impacts like domic acid that can cause amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP), saxitoxin that is responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning, brevetoxins that causes neurotoxic shellfish poisoning or NSP, okadaic acid diarrheic shellfish poisoning or DSP, ciguatoxin (ciguatera fish poisoning CFP) etc depending upon the algae.

The toxins of the algae cause itching and burning of skin among swimmers; at times when the bloom is in full swing; those sit on sea shore are also affected by inhaling the toxic contents carried by the sea breeze. Deaths of human beings have been reported by consuming the shellfish infected by the algae toxins.