monument · Aveiro, PA
Caixa d'água e oficinas de Fordlândia
About 50 meters tall, the water tower was made in Michigan and shipped to the village, becoming the symbol of Henry Ford's old project. Around it, the sawmill and the three-story workshop building are still standing.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Caixa d'água e oficinas de Fordlândia
The Fordlândia water tower is the most visible landmark of the village created in the late 1920s by Henry Ford's company, on the banks of the Tapajós River, in the municipality of Aveiro, in western Pará. Raised on a tall structure of metal legs, it rises above the trees as you arrive by boat and has become the symbol of the old rubber project.
The water tower was already standing in the early 1930s, next to the powerhouse that supplied the village, as the company's own photographs show. It is still part of Fordlândia's water supply today.
Around it are the old industrial structures, such as the sawmill and the large workshop building, with facades lined with rows of windows. The building holds equipment, vehicles and objects from the company era, including items from the old hospital.
You explore on foot, and it combines well with a walk through the village streets. The buildings are old and some are run-down, so it is best to look from the outside and not climb the water tower structure.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
About an hour to see the water tower and the surrounding buildings, as part of a longer walk around the village.
Best time
In the less rainy season, in the second half of the year, and early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the light is softer and it is less hot.
How to get there
The water tower is in the center of Fordlândia, a district of Aveiro, on the right bank of the Tapajós River, in western Pará. You reach the village by boat on the Tapajós from Santarém, or by a dirt road linked to the Trans-Amazonian Highway; from there you walk.
Tip
To see the whole water tower together with the village, look at it from the river as you arrive by boat, when it rises above the trees.
A look at the place
Caixa d'água e oficinas de Fordlândia in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Caixa d'água e oficinas de Fordlândia
Does the Fordlândia water tower still work?
Yes. The structure from Henry Ford's company era is still part of the village's water supply.
When was the Fordlândia water tower built?
It was built by Henry Ford's company in the village's early years and already appears in company photographs from the early 1930s.
What is near the Fordlândia water tower?
The village's old industrial structures, such as the sawmill and the workshop building, which holds equipment, vehicles and objects from the company era.
Can you climb the Fordlândia water tower?
It is not recommended. The structure is old and not set up for visitors; it is best viewed from the ground or the river.
How do I get to the Fordlândia water tower?
It is in the center of the village of Fordlândia, in Aveiro (PA). The village is reached by boat on the Tapajós River from Santarém, or by a dirt road linked to the Trans-Amazonian Highway.