If you are a regular reader of São Paulo Secreto, you already know that the Tietê River in the interior of São Paulo is very different from what we see in the capital: it is full of fish, receives luxurious cruise trips and even has a stretch with drinking water that you can drink straight from the tap. But did you know that São Paulo’s most important waterway was also the scene of a shipwreck? And it wasn’t just any vessel, but a military ship belonging to the Emperor of Brazil: the Tamandathay.
It sounds like a movie script, but believe it. Learn now about one of the most unusual episodes of the Tietê River, involving Dom Pedro II, international disputes over territory, and a historical dive that few São Paulo residents know about.
Illustrative image. Photo: Reproduction/Itapura City Hall
The Tamandathay ship survived the bloodiest war on the continent
In the mid-19th century, the Brazilian Empire was experiencing tension with neighboring countries, including Paraguay. For this reason, in 1860, Dom Pedro II acquired the Tamandathay military steamship with the aim of reinforcing his fleet and protecting Brazil’s western borders.
During the Paraguayan War (1864-1870) — the largest international armed conflict ever to occur in Latin America — Paraguayan troops conquered part of the territories of Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. It was then that the Tamandathay entered the scene, acting on the front lines to defend and recover the Brazilian borders.
After the conflict, the vessel became a means of transport for troops, authorities, and supplies in the interior of São Paulo and neighboring states. In other words, the ship survived the cannons of war… but not the forces of nature.
“Combate Naval do Riachuelo” (Naval Battle of Riachuelo), Vitor Meireles. Photo: Jaime Acioli/via National Historical Museum
Ship became an “underwater museum” in the interior of São Paulo
On April 20, 1883, around six in the morning, the Tamandathay left Itapura to sail down the Tietê River. Shortly thereafter, however, an underwater rock tore a hole in the structure and caused the hull to flood. The water quickly extinguished the fire in the boilers, which were essential for the steamboat to function, and the vessel was left adrift in the strong current.
The crew tried to drag the boat to a shallow area using a cable, but it broke and the Tamandathay sank, ending its journey. Although disastrous, the shipwreck did not end in tragedy: everyone on board was saved, with no deaths reported. Thus, what could have been a catastrophe ended up becoming an almost cinematic episode, with an imperial warship resting in the depths of the Tietê River.
And best of all: you can visit it! The Tamandathay remains submerged near Itapura, on the border with Mato Grosso do Sul, 670 kilometers from the state capital. Specialized agencies in the region offer diving trips to the ship, which lies 20 meters below the surface. How about experiencing this underwater adventure on your next vacation?
Illustrative image | Photo: Rubens de Camargo Vianna Filho/Wikimedia Commons