Caçapava do Sul is a Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

ian city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...

, located on the banks of the Camaquã River. As of 2006 the city had a population of 34,461. It was the 2nd capital of the Piratini Republic

Piratini Republic

The Riograndense Republic, often called Piratini Republic , was a de facto state that existed between September 11, 1836 and March 1, 1845 geographically coinciding with the present state of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil...

 from 1839 to 1840.

The economy depends primarily on the mining industry. Caçapava do Sul produces 80% of the calcareous

Calcareous

Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...

 rock mined in Rio Grande do Sul. For many years it was Brazil's major producer of copper

Copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...

 and is still an important center of copper mining

Copper extraction

Copper extraction techniques refers to the methods for obtaining copper from its ores. This conversion consists of a series of chemical, physical, and electrochemical processes. Methods have evolved and vary with country depending on the ore source, local environmental regulations, and other...

.

A major deposit of copper ore was discovered in the 1940s by the CBC (Companhia Brasileira do Cobre / Brazilian Copper Company), under the direction of Brazilian industrialist and famous playboy Francisco "Baby" Pignatari. The area, about 5 kilometers from Caçapava, came to be known as the Minas do Camaquã  (Camaquã Mines). This large operation contributed enormously to the town's economy and is still the site of operating copper mines, by such companies as Majestic Diamonds & Metals.
The area is one of great natural beauty, with several interesting natural formations. Nearby lies Pedra do Segredo (Stone of the Secret), a famous natural outcropping of stone that attracts mountain climbers and tourists from all over the state and elsewhere.

Geography

The city is located at latitude 30º30'44"S and longitude 53º29'29"W, at an altitude of 444 meters (1,443 ft). It has a geographical area of 3,044.8 km².

Main tourist attractions

• Pedra do Segredo (Stone of the Secret)
• Dom Pedro II Fort
• Cascata do Salso (Salso Waterfall)
• Minas do Camaquã (Camaquã Mines)
• Casa de Borges de Medeiros (Borges of Medeiros' House)
• Casa dos Ministérios - Farrapos (House of the Ministers of Poverty, literally "Ministries of Tatters")
• Igreja Matriz Nossa Sra Assunção (Our Lady of Assumption Church and compound)
• Guaritas (considered the 7th natural wonder of Rio Grande do Sul)

Nearby Municipalities

• São Sepé
  São Sepé
  -See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
  
  
• Cachoeira do Sul
  Cachoeira do Sul
  Cachoeira do Sul is a municipality of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.It is located at a latitude of 30º02'21" S and a longitude of 52º53'38" W, at an approximate height of 68 meters over sea level. Its population in 2004 was approximately 89120 and its surface area is 3715.5 square...
  
  
• Santana da Boa Vista
  Santana da Boa Vista
  -See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
  
  
• Pinheiro Machado
• Bagé
  Bagé
  Bagé is a city and a municipality in the south of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In 2007 its population was 112,550 in a total area of 4,096 km2. It was the tenth largest city in the state in 2007 -Location:...
  
  
• Lavras do Sul
• Vila Nova do Sul
  Vila Nova do Sul
  -See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...