When  the  river  reaches  the sea,  it divides  into  two branches.  Belém,  capital  of  the  state  of  Pará,  is located  on the  southern branch. This privileged location makes  Belém the  other  main point of entry to the Amazon region as well as an important commercial and economic center.   Belém  served  as the main port in the region during the 19th-century rubber  boom.  The famous  "Ver-o-Peso"  market  designed   and  built   in England is a reminder of that era.  Each morning, local products and crafts are brought to  the  market  by  boat  and  canoe.    The  market  is  always  filled  with  the pleasant hospitality typical of Belém as well as a wide variety  of  tropical  fruits,  fish,  foods and local handicrafts. 

The   Catholic    churches   of  Belém   are   beautiful architectural   monuments.   The Mercês   Church,   the oldest in the city (late 17th  century), is built in the purest baroque style, and the Cathedral  contains impressive paintings. Also  worth  visiting  are Santo  Alexandre Church  and  Our  Lady  Nazaré Basilica,  site  of  the annual   “Círio de Nazaré”   procession,  the  most important  in  the  Northern region. Among  the many historic  buildings,  the  Teatro da  Paz  is  especially  noteworthy. 

Belém's  beautiful,  tree-lined streets and squares also have many excellent hotels and restaurants.  The modem airport  is regularly serviced by flights from the United States, Latin America  and  most  Brazilian  cities.   The  city  can also be reached by highway from  Brasília  and  the  Northeast.   Belém  still  preserves  a  small part of the Amazon forest  within  the  city  limits  in  the  Rodrigues  Alves  Forest,  a  lovely park where the original plant life has been protected.   Nature  lovers  will  also  appreciate  the Emilio Goeldi Museum  containing  the    largest  collection  of   tropical    plants  in  the  world  plus  a zoological  garden,  a  botanical  garden,   an  excellent  library  and a rich collection of pottery and ceramics from the nearby Marajó Island.