Brasiléia 5.43

Brasiléia is a Brazilian municipality located in the northern state of Acre. Its population in 2007 was estimated at 20,238 inhabitants. Its area is 336.189 km². Located 237 km south of Rio Branco on the border with Bolivia, has its limits with the municipalities Epitaciolândia, Brazil Assisi, and Sena Madureira Xapuri.Although established as a free trade area, it is still not regulated. Currently, it is recorded heavy dependence on trade with the neighboring municipality of Cobija, contrary to what happened in decades past, when the fact was the reverse.HistoryBrasiléia originated from a small strip of land from an old rubber plantation called Carmen, on July 3, 1910, using the name of Brasilia. In 1943 the town's name was changed since it had the same name as the new federal capital. The current name is derived from the union of words Brazil (Bras) and Hiléia (forest). In 1992 the town divided its area, with the entire area and population located on the right bank of the Rio Acre originating the city of Epitaciolândia.GeographyThe Xapuri and Acre rivers cross the municipality territory, with the Xapuri river marking the border with the Republic of Bolivia. In the early decades of the twentieth century the region experienced the boom of Brazilian nuts and rubber exploration, which were transported by the river Acre via cargo ships known as "chata". Today this kind of transport disappeared, giving way to road transport by highway BR-317 linking with the state capital, Rio Branco, fully paved, being in its main access route.