Governador Valadares
Encyclopedia
Governador Valadares is a Brazil
ian city in the state of Minas Gerais
. In 2006, its population was 260,405 inhabitants.
It is an economical center of the middle Valley of the Rio Doce, making a significant influence on the east and northeast of Minas Gerais and local authorities of the state of the Espírito Santo
. Governador Valadares sits on the bank of the Rio Doce, 324 km from Belo Horizonte.
The main watercourse through the municipality is the Doce River
("Doce" means sweet in Portuguese) whose basin (of 83,500 square kilometers) is composed of 222 municipalities. Nowadays its waters are very polluted, with little vegetation on its banks and depleted fish stocks.
, Campanário
, Capitão Andrade
, Coroaci
, Divino das Laranjeiras
, Engenheiro Caldas
, Fernandes Tourinho
, Frei Inocêncio
, Galiléia
, Governador Valadares, Itambacuri
, Itanhomi
, Jampruca
, Marilac
, Mathias Lobato
, Nacip Raydan
, Nova Módica
, Pescador
, São Geraldo da Piedade
, São Geraldo do Baixio
, São José da Safira
, São José do Divino
, Sobrália
, Tumiritinga
, and Virgolândia
. Its population (2006) was estimated by the IBGE to be 407,815 inhabitants in a total area of 11, 327 km².
in Bahia
. Only in the beginning of the nineteenth century did its colonization begin when in 1808 the Portuguese
government created military divisions in the region. In 1823, the D. Manoel barracks were established on the left bank of the Doce, exactly at the point at which the river begins to be partially navigable. By the end of the nineteenth century, Dom Manuel was the main river port on the Doce, being a meeting place for muleteers and canoes that took products to the coast. Only after the beginning of the twentieth century was the occupation of the territory accelerated, with the construction of the Vitória-Minas railway in 1902. In 1925 the first electric plant was installed to serve the residences of the town. It was powered by steam.
Throughout its history Governador Valdares has had several names:
In 1937, the municipality of Figueira do Rio Doce was established, which then changed its name to Governador Valadares, in honor of the governor at the time, Benedito Valadares.
Governador Valadares is the biggest city and commercial center of the Eastern region of the state of Minas Gerais, having several cities in his area of influence, such as Teófilo Otoni and Caratinga. At present, Governador Valadares is growing in industrial development, due to its strategic position, human resources and international reputation.
It is a trade and industrial center. Sawmills and food-processing plants are in the city, and mica
and beryl
are mined in the area. Governador Valadares is one of the most famous gem-trading centres in Brazil. Gem minerals include amethyst
, chrysoberyl
, brazilianite
, topaz
and quartz
. The Golconda
mine, one of the oldest in the city, attracts the curiosity of tourists and stone collectors from all over the world.
The city is on the Belo Horizonte–Vitória railway and on the Rio de Janeiro–Salvador highway.
Distances from major centers:
Cel. Altino Machado de Oliveira Airport
is a category 3 facility, with a paved runway 1,400 meters long. There are regular flights to Belo Horizonte
, São Paulo
, Rio de Janeiro
, Porto Seguro
, Salvador
, and Vitória.
The city is known internationally for the World Paragliding Championship that has been held at Ibituruna
Peak (1123 meters).
Average annual rainfall index: 1,350 mm
with the following cities: Framingham, Massachusetts
, USA Everett
, Massachusetts
, USA Newark
, New Jersey
, USA
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 Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais
Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...
. In 2006, its population was 260,405 inhabitants.
It is an economical center of the middle Valley of the Rio Doce, making a significant influence on the east and northeast of Minas Gerais and local authorities of the state of the Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of southeastern Brazil, often referred to by the abbreviation "ES". Its capital is Vitória and the largest city is Vila Velha. The name of the state means literally "holy spirit" after the Holy Ghost of Christianity...
. Governador Valadares sits on the bank of the Rio Doce, 324 km from Belo Horizonte.
The main watercourse through the municipality is the Doce River
Doce River
The Doce River is a river in southeast Brazil, which has an extension of 853 km.It is formed by the junction of the Piranga and the Carmo near the historical city of Ouro Preto, whose sources are located in the foothills of the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço mountain chains at altitudes of about 1,200...
("Doce" means sweet in Portuguese) whose basin (of 83,500 square kilometers) is composed of 222 municipalities. Nowadays its waters are very polluted, with little vegetation on its banks and depleted fish stocks.
Micro-region
Governador Valadares is also a statistical micro-region including 25 municipalities: AlpercataAlpercata
Alpercata is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 7,007 people living in a total area of 167 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Vale do Rio Doce and to the micro-region of Governador Valadares...
, Campanário
Campanário, Minas Gerais
Campanário is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 3,592 people living in a total area of 441 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Vale do Rio Doce and to the micro-region of Governador Valadares...
, Capitão Andrade
Capitão Andrade
Capitão Andrade is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil. The most Important root family that actually started the city was The Rodrigues family, popular known as Pio's family ....
, Coroaci
Coroaci
Coroaci is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 11,109 people living in a total area of 576 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Vale do Rio Doce and to the micro-region of Governador Valadares...
, Divino das Laranjeiras
Divino das Laranjeiras
Divino das Laranjeiras is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Engenheiro Caldas
Engenheiro Caldas
Engenheiro Caldas is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Fernandes Tourinho
Fernandes Tourinho
Fernandes Tourinho is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Frei Inocêncio
Frei Inocêncio
Frei Inocêncio is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Galiléia
Galiléia
Galiléia is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Governador Valadares, Itambacuri
Itambacuri
Itambacuri is a Brazilian city located in the state of Minas Gerais. As of 2004 its population is estimated to be 23,424. Itambacuri contains its own airport, referred to as the 'Itambacuri airport'.-References:...
, Itanhomi
Itanhomi
Itanhomi is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Jampruca
Jampruca
Jampruca is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Marilac
Marilac
Marilac is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Mathias Lobato
Mathias Lobato
Mathias Lobato is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Nacip Raydan
Nacip Raydan
Nacip Raydan is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Nova Módica
Nova Módica
Nova Módica is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Pescador
Pescador
Pescador is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, São Geraldo da Piedade
São Geraldo da Piedade
São Geraldo da Piedade is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, São Geraldo do Baixio
São Geraldo do Baixio
São Geraldo do Baixio is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, São José da Safira
São José da Safira
São José da Safira is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, São José do Divino
São José do Divino, Minas Gerais
São José do Divino, Minas Gerais is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Sobrália
Sobrália
Sobrália is a small town in Brazil in the state of Minas Gerais. Its population in 2004 was an estimated 6,000 inhabitants. The name Sobrália came from a local Native American tribe referring to a flower Sobralia....
, Tumiritinga
Tumiritinga
Tumiritinga is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, and Virgolândia
Virgolândia
Virgolândia is a Brazilian city in the state of Minas Gerais. As of 2004 its population is estimated to be 5,748....
. Its population (2006) was estimated by the IBGE to be 407,815 inhabitants in a total area of 11, 327 km².
History
The area around Governador Valadares was explored in colonial times. The first expedition to reach the Doce River arrived there in 1573, leaving from Porto SeguroPorto Seguro
Porto Seguro is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It is the site where the Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral first set foot on Brazilian soil on April 22, 1500...
in Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
. Only in the beginning of the nineteenth century did its colonization begin when in 1808 the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
government created military divisions in the region. In 1823, the D. Manoel barracks were established on the left bank of the Doce, exactly at the point at which the river begins to be partially navigable. By the end of the nineteenth century, Dom Manuel was the main river port on the Doce, being a meeting place for muleteers and canoes that took products to the coast. Only after the beginning of the twentieth century was the occupation of the territory accelerated, with the construction of the Vitória-Minas railway in 1902. In 1925 the first electric plant was installed to serve the residences of the town. It was powered by steam.
Throughout its history Governador Valdares has had several names:
- 1734 - Arraial do Porto de Dom Manuel
- 1808 - Porto das Canoas
- 1888 - Santo Antônio da Figueira
- 1889 – Distrito De Santo Antônio do Bonsucesso
- 1923 - Figueira
In 1937, the municipality of Figueira do Rio Doce was established, which then changed its name to Governador Valadares, in honor of the governor at the time, Benedito Valadares.
Economy
Production and the intense trade in precious stones is the reason the "Brazil Gem Show" takes place in the local authority every year: an event that consists of the commerce of precious stones with Brazilians and foreign visitorsGovernador Valadares is the biggest city and commercial center of the Eastern region of the state of Minas Gerais, having several cities in his area of influence, such as Teófilo Otoni and Caratinga. At present, Governador Valadares is growing in industrial development, due to its strategic position, human resources and international reputation.
It is a trade and industrial center. Sawmills and food-processing plants are in the city, and mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
and beryl
Beryl
The mineral beryl is a beryllium aluminium cyclosilicate with the chemical formula Be3Al26. The hexagonal crystals of beryl may be very small or range to several meters in size. Terminated crystals are relatively rare...
are mined in the area. Governador Valadares is one of the most famous gem-trading centres in Brazil. Gem minerals include amethyst
Amethyst
Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz often used in jewelry. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ἀ a- and μέθυστος methustos , a reference to the belief that the stone protected its owner from drunkenness; the ancient Greeks and Romans wore amethyst and made drinking vessels of it in the belief...
, chrysoberyl
Chrysoberyl
The mineral or gemstone chrysoberyl is an aluminate of beryllium with the formula BeAl2O4. The name chrysoberyl is derived from the Greek words χρυσός chrysos and βήρυλλος beryllos, meaning "a gold-white spar". Despite the similarity of their names, chrysoberyl and beryl are two completely...
, brazilianite
Brazilianite
Brazilianite, whose name derives from its country of origin, Brazil, is a typically yellow-green phosphate mineral, most commonly found in phosphate-rich pegmatites...
, topaz
Topaz
Topaz is a silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine with the chemical formula Al2SiO42. Topaz crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and its crystals are mostly prismatic terminated by pyramidal and other faces.-Color and varieties:...
and quartz
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
. The Golconda
Golconda
Golconda may be:Places:* Golkonda, ruined city and fortress in India* Golconda, Illinois, town in the United States* Golconda, Nevada, former town in the United StatesOther:* Golconda...
mine, one of the oldest in the city, attracts the curiosity of tourists and stone collectors from all over the world.
Transportation
The city is served by the railroad Vitória-Minas, of the CVRD and by the highway Rio-Bahia (BR 116). It is also connected with the capital of the state by the BR 381.The city is on the Belo Horizonte–Vitória railway and on the Rio de Janeiro–Salvador highway.
Distances from major centers:
- Belo HorizonteBelo HorizonteBelo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
– 311 km - Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
- 580 km - São PauloSão PauloSão Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
- 891 km - BrasíliaBrasíliaBrasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
- 1,045 km - Vitória – 420 km
Cel. Altino Machado de Oliveira Airport
Governador Valadares Airport
Coronel Altino Machado de Oliveira Airport is the airport serving Governador Valadares, Brazil.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
is a category 3 facility, with a paved runway 1,400 meters long. There are regular flights to Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Porto Seguro
Porto Seguro
Porto Seguro is a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It is the site where the Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral first set foot on Brazilian soil on April 22, 1500...
, Salvador
Salvador, Bahia
Salvador is the largest city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. Salvador is also known as Brazil's capital of happiness due to its easygoing population and countless popular outdoor parties, including its street carnival. The first...
, and Vitória.
Sport
The city hosts of one of the stages of the Brazilian Championship of Hang gliding being that the competitors get off the Ibituruna's Peak, where it is possible to catch sight of the whole region of the Valley of the Rio Doce which bed is on the feet of the peak, and also it hosts several international championships of hang gliding, which takes the local authority to be known like "The World-wide Capital of the Hang gliding".The city is known internationally for the World Paragliding Championship that has been held at Ibituruna
Ibituruna
Ibituruna is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
Peak (1123 meters).
Climate
Temperature:- Annual average: 32.6 °C [90.7 °F]
- Annual maximum average: 40.7 °C [105.3 °F]
- Annual minimum average: 18.3 °C [65 °F]
Average annual rainfall index: 1,350 mm
Sister cities
Governador Valadares is twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with the following cities: Framingham, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA Everett
Everett
- Places :* Everett, Washington, the county seat and largest city in Washington state's Snohomish County*Naval Station Everett* Everett, Massachusetts, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts north of Boston* Everett, Pennsylvania, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, USA Newark
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, USA