Rufina Beach and Sustainable Development: The Role of Women …
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8 The Contribution of Fish Gastronomy
Women work in food preparation using natural ingredients free of pesticides,
mastering the typical regional cuisine, and this is an important point, especially
in the preparation of native fish dishes marketed to visitors such as stew, marinade,
fish fried fish, fish bait and roast fish tambaqui (colossoma macropomum), matrinxã
(brycon cephalus), piau (leporinis obtusidens cantares). Therefore, fish enters the
diet which is mostly served to visitors, followed by poultry, such as regional chicken.
9 The Importance of Boating
The boat rides or canoes last for one hour and are a time for contemplation of flora
and fauna. In some points of the river, there are stops for the visitor to interact with
locals and local culture, and the information passed to the visitors derive from the
reading of nature developed by women, presenting the enigmatic and the exuberance
of the scenarios. The care with the environment is highlighted, and it is also related
with the accumulation of waste by visitors, or even by the residents, who are advised
to transport generated waste, after the visit, for proper disposal. These tours are
considered one of the greatest experiences in nature, where care occurs in favour of
the preservation of water resources.
Freshwater beaches provide spaces for recreation, such as bathing, water sports
and sustainable activities. The canoes made of wood do not impact the waters, an
example of the care with nature.
All these activities contribute to instigate social responsibility in citizens, and that
the same time, contribute to overall sustainability in this specific region.
10 Rufina Beach and Its History
The name Rufina originates from the story of a legend that occurred in the region
with the disappearance of a woman that used to go to the river to fish:
This beautiful woman, whose name was Maria Rufina decided on a beautiful sunny day, to
go fishing with her two sons and her husband, but suddenly the family split to go looking for
bigger fish and Maria Rufina was feeling tired and decided to take a nap in the sand, trying
not to lose the fishing tied by the line of the hook in one of her legs and slept. Maria Rufina’s
idea was good, but it failed in one detail: she did not wake up and a very large fish dragged
her into the depths of the river. When her children and husband returned, they did not find
her, only finding a Lord of the World who owned a straw house near the river, who soon said:
I do not know what happened, but I heard some shouts to that side and when I watched there
was no one. And no one ever heard from Maria Rufina again despite the extense search.
To this day, the region is known as Rufina Beach and Rufina Lake. The legend
says that the woman Maria Rufina, did not allow her family, children and husband,
371
8 The Contribution of Fish Gastronomy
Women work in food preparation using natural ingredients free of pesticides,
mastering the typical regional cuisine, and this is an important point, especially
in the preparation of native fish dishes marketed to visitors such as stew, marinade,
fish fried fish, fish bait and roast fish tambaqui (colossoma macropomum), matrinxã
(brycon cephalus), piau (leporinis obtusidens cantares). Therefore, fish enters the
diet which is mostly served to visitors, followed by poultry, such as regional chicken.
9 The Importance of Boating
The boat rides or canoes last for one hour and are a time for contemplation of flora
and fauna. In some points of the river, there are stops for the visitor to interact with
locals and local culture, and the information passed to the visitors derive from the
reading of nature developed by women, presenting the enigmatic and the exuberance
of the scenarios. The care with the environment is highlighted, and it is also related
with the accumulation of waste by visitors, or even by the residents, who are advised
to transport generated waste, after the visit, for proper disposal. These tours are
considered one of the greatest experiences in nature, where care occurs in favour of
the preservation of water resources.
Freshwater beaches provide spaces for recreation, such as bathing, water sports
and sustainable activities. The canoes made of wood do not impact the waters, an
example of the care with nature.
All these activities contribute to instigate social responsibility in citizens, and that
the same time, contribute to overall sustainability in this specific region.
10 Rufina Beach and Its History
The name Rufina originates from the story of a legend that occurred in the region
with the disappearance of a woman that used to go to the river to fish:
This beautiful woman, whose name was Maria Rufina decided on a beautiful sunny day, to
go fishing with her two sons and her husband, but suddenly the family split to go looking for
bigger fish and Maria Rufina was feeling tired and decided to take a nap in the sand, trying
not to lose the fishing tied by the line of the hook in one of her legs and slept. Maria Rufina’s
idea was good, but it failed in one detail: she did not wake up and a very large fish dragged
her into the depths of the river. When her children and husband returned, they did not find
her, only finding a Lord of the World who owned a straw house near the river, who soon said:
I do not know what happened, but I heard some shouts to that side and when I watched there
was no one. And no one ever heard from Maria Rufina again despite the extense search.
To this day, the region is known as Rufina Beach and Rufina Lake. The legend
says that the woman Maria Rufina, did not allow her family, children and husband,