The Capibaribe River () is a river located in

Pernambuco Pernambuco ( , , ) is a States of Brazil, state of Brazil located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast region of the country. With an estimated population of 9.5 million people as of 2024, it is the List of Brazilian states by population, ...

state,

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

, with a length of 240 kilometers. The Capibaribe originates in the Serra do Jacarará, in the municipality of Poção, and flows to the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five borders of the oceans, oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth#Surface, Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the ...

Recife Recife ( , ) is the Federative units of Brazil, state capital of Pernambuco, Brazil, on the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic coast of South America. It is the largest urban area within both the North Region, Brazil, North and the Northeast R ...

Etymology

The word Capibaribe derives from the Tupi names ''Caapiuar-y-be'' or ''Capibara-ybe'', meaning

Capybara The capybara or greater capybara (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') is the largest living rodent, native to South America. It is a member of the genus '' Hydrochoerus''. The only other extant member is the lesser capybara (''Hydrochoerus isthmi ...

River.

Sports

Recife's sport team Clube Náutico Capibaribe is named after the Capibaribe River. Parque das esculturas

History

The Capibaribe River was a significant geographic determinant factor in the history of

State and the Northeast of Brazil. It was in the floodplains of the river that the first sugar cane mills were formed, its black clay soil being suitable for the cultivation of agricultural crops. The river also served as a starting point to reach the wilderness areas beyond. Access to the wilderness enabled the development of a livestock farming industry. Today, ongoing studies about the navigability of the river for urban transportation will assist in developing the region further.

References

Rivers of Pernambuco {{Pernambuco-river-stub