Breu Branco, Brazil

This town of 66,046 people was unceremoniously relocated to make way for a hydroelectric dam. The old village of Breu Velho, with its stilt houses and Brazil nut trade, was submerged by the rising waters. The new Breu Branco is a product of bureaucratic planning, not organic growth. Residents must now contend with the deactivation of the railroad that once brought prosperity.

Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the municipality was only officially established in 1991 after years of relocation efforts. The climate is tropical, with the Tocantins River and its seasonal flooding a fact of life. Safety could also be a concern, as the text notes the town's origins were tied to a movement to break away from the state.

Breu Branco is not for the faint of heart. This is a place for hardened pioneers willing to battle red tape and the elements in pursuit of a fresh start.