With a total area of 152,581.388 km2 of extension, Acre is, as measured by its size, the 16th Brazilian State, which corresponds to 3.9% of the Brazilian Amazon region and to 1.8% of the national territory. For comparison purposes, the State of Acre has an area almost four times larger than Denmark.
Currently having 22 municipalities, Acre borders the States of Amazonas (N) and Rondonia (E), besides bordering Bolívia (SE) and Peru (S and W). Most of the State territory is located on a plateau, with an average height of 200 m, being also located in Acre the Serra da Contamina [Contamina Mountain], considered the farthest western point in Brazil.
The time across the whole State of Acre is normally 2 hours behind Brasilia time, a difference which is increased to 3 hours during summer time, a measure imposed by the federal government so that the time is advanced in one hour in the South, Southeast and Mid-western regions of Brazil, aimed at saving electric power.
The territory where the State of Acre is currently located has already belonged to Bolivia, but Brazil was granted final possession of the region after many conflicts and upon signature of the Petrópolis Treaty, on November 17, 1903, in exchange for areas in the State of Mato Grosso, payment of 2 million pounds sterling and the commitment to build the railroad Madeira - Mamoré.
It is impossible to speak of Acre without mentioning the figure of Chico Mendes, who became a mark in the movement in favour of social justice and preservation of nature and the Amazon region. Chico leaded popular movements and has fought with his companions, rubber tapers and indigenous, in defence of the forest they occupied and used on a non-predatory way. His proposals conflicted with the interests of those who aimed at destructing the forests and expelling those who lived in harmony with nature. Many killings took place, culminating with the murdering of Chico Mendes at home, in the city of Xapuri, in 1988.
