Porto Alegre

:This article is about Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. You may be looking for Portalegre, Alentejo, Portugal.

Related Topics:
Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil - Portalegre - Alentejo - Portugal

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Porto Alegre, one of the largest cities in southern Brazil, is the capital of Rio Grande do Sul State. Population: 1,416,000 (2004).

Related Topics:
Brazil - Rio Grande do Sul

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The city is located at the conjunction of five rivers, among them the Guaíba River (actually a lake). Although its origins date from the mid-1700s, when immigrants from the Azores settled in the area, the city was officially established in 1809.

Related Topics:
Rivers - Guaíba River - Lake - 1700s - 1809

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There are more than 70 neighborhoods and 2/3 of the population is concentrated in the Zona Norte (Northern Zone). The same place has great part of the economic activity.

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The climate is subtropical, with hot summer and cool winter and wet all year. The average temperatures on January is 24,5°C and on july 14,3°C, but it´s record are 40,7° in 1943 and -4,0° in 1918. Snowfall is very rare, been observed in the late os 19th century, 1910, 1984 and 2000. Thunderstorms are very common.

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Porto Alegre is the major industrial center for southern Brazil, and a key city for Mercosul. It also is a center for gaúcho (the popular name for natives of the State) history and culture, famous for its churrasco (grilled meat) and chimarrão (a strong tea prepared from erva mate (yerba mate). Several important Brazilian universities are located there.

Related Topics:
Brazil - Mercosul - Gaúcho - Churrasco - Chimarrão - Yerba mate

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Because of its strategical position (Porto Alegre is the southernmost metropolis in Brazil) the city is an important stopping point for travellers and international businessman in the south of South America, especially coutries of Mercosul.

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Porto Alegre is also one of the wealthiest Latin-American cities and one of the most diverse. It has harbored immigrants from all over the world, the largest numbers coming from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. The Arabian, Jewish and Afro-Brazilian population is quite significant as well.

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As a result of its left-wing tendencies, it was the location of the World Social Forum for three years. Participation at each of these Fora has been estimated to be in excess of one hundred thousand people.

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In recent years Porto Alegre has become widely known for its innovative experiments in Participatory budgeting.

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