Breves, Pará

Breves
Municipality
Seen from the river in 2024
Location in the State of Pará
Coordinates: 01°40′55″S 50°28′48″W / 1.68194°S 50.48000°W / -1.68194; -50.48000
Country Brazil
RegionNorth
State Pará
FoundedNovember 19, 1738
EmancipationOctober 25, 1851
Government
  MayorToninho Barbosa
Area
  Total
9,550.454 km2 (3,687.451 sq mi)
Elevation
40 m (130 ft)
Population
 (2020 est.)
  Total
103,497
  Density11/km2 (28/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)
Postal Code
68800-000
Websitehttp://www.breves.pa.gov.br

Breves is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Pará, on the island of Marajó. Its population as of 2020 is estimated to be 103,497 people. The area of the municipality is 9,550.454 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion Marajó and to the microregion of Furos de Breves.

The municipality is contained in the 59,985 square kilometres (23,160 sq mi) Marajó Archipelago Environmental Protection Area, a sustainable use conservation unit established in 1989 to protect the environment of the delta region. It contains the 93,746 hectares (231,650 acres) Mapuá Extractive Reserve, a sustainable use conservation unit created in 2005.

The city is served by Breves Airport.

In August 1659, the Treaty of the Mapuá was signed at the Mapuá River by Portuguese Jesuits led by António Vieira with various indigenous peoples who inhabited the Marajó Archipelago. The ceremony took place near a locality called Vila Amélia (1°7′S 50°18′W / 1.117°S 50.300°W / -1.117; -50.300). In the present day, there is still an indigenous cemetery at the spot where the treaty was signed.