Acre (AC)

Acre has a border with Bolivia and Peru. It is at the extreme West of Brazil and is a state which still has almost 90% of its natural rainforest.

With an economy based on vegetable extraction – principally that of rubber, which was the main spur for the area’s population – the state is a major producer of Brazil nuts, açaí berry and copaiba oil. Its principal export is wood.

Acreana culture is very similar to other northern Brazilian states, with a slant towards that of the north-east.

By mixing together varied traditions, from the south and the north-east of Brazil, as well as São Paulo and indigenous ethnic groups, Acreana cuisine is highly diverse, ranging from carne-de-sol to pirarucu (a local fish), these dishes are typically accompanied by tucupi, a mandioc root based sauce.

Approximately 15 thousand of Acre’s inhabitants are native indians, who live in 32 special reserves, maintaining their traditional ways of life. Their cultural heritage is visible in the handicraft and cuisine, influencing the acreano lifestyle, which is closely linked to the rainforest and its myths.

Travelling along the Paths of Chico Mendes – a union leader known for his fight in defence of the sustainable use of the Amazon’s natural resources, and an international icon of his cause, having received the UN 500 Year Global Award – is a great way of getting to know this man’s relationship with the rainforest.

Another of the state’s attractions is the Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, which is one of the world’s most bio-diverse places.

Capital: Rio Branco
Area (km2): 164 122,2
Population: 803.513 (2015)
Term for a person from this state: acreano, acreana
Dial code: 68
Bordering states: Amazonas e Rondônia