run along many kilometers in the front of the city, side by side, without mixing. Amazon's milky colored water carries sediment from the Andes in the East, while the Tapajós's water is somewhat warmer and has a deep-blue tone. This phenomenon is called "The meeting of the waters" by the locals. Climate Santarém has a tropical monsoon climate not subject to significant changes in temperatures due to its proximity to the equator. The average annual temperature varies between 25º and , with a relative humidity of 86%. During the year the average rainfall is of about , which becomes more intense during the wet season that spans from November to July when the average monthly rainfall varies from . The dry season spans from August through October, in this season the lowest rainfall is recorded which troughs at . Demographics The total population of the city was 294,580 people (2010 census). Santarém is the seventh-largest city in the north region of Brazil, behind Manaus, Belém, Porto Velho, Ananindeua, Macapá and Rio Branco. Of the population 51.5% were men and 48.5% women. Santarém lost population from 1996 to 1999, during the decline of the gold rush in the latter part of the decade of 1980. Moreover, between 1980 and 2000, the rural population declined as people moved into cities due to poor infrastructure in the countryside. Since the year 2000, Santarém's population has increased due to that migration, as well as people being attracted to its improved infrastructure, health care, schools, and other amenities. In 2008, the village of Mojui dos Campos was designated as an independent City, so its population was withdrawn from the Santarém total. Religion Santarém was founded by the Portuguese as a Catholic city and the vast majority of the population is catholic. New migrants have brought differing religions, including various Protestant denominations, Judaism, Spiritualism, and Buddhism. Economy Santarém is an important regional market center in the Lower Amazon, located midway between the larger cities of Belém at the coast and Manaus upriver. The regional economy is based on agriculture, cattle, and mining. The city has seen many 'cycles' of development dominated by one or a few economic activities, including rubber extraction (in the last century), coffee production, and gold mining. Most recently, there has been a huge growth in the area of soybean plantations. Infrastructure Airport Santarém is home to Santarém-Maestro Wilson Fonseca Airport. As it