Porto Alegre

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

Loyal and Worthy City of Porto Alegre
Flag Seal
Geograpichal divisions of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre is highlighted in red.
Coordinates: 30°01′59″S, 51°13′48″W
Country	Brazil
State	Rio Grande do Sul
Incorporated	March 26, 1772
Mayor	José Fogaça (PPS)
Area
- City	496.8 km²  (191.81 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m  (32.80 ft)
Population
- City (2005)	1.440.939
- Density	2,815.6/km² (7,386.14/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
- Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Website: portoalegre.rs.gov.br

Porto Alegre, one of the largest cities in Brazil, is the capital city of Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre is the most important city of Southern Brazil, being its cultural, political and economical center. Porto Alegre has^[1] the best standard of living of all Brazilian capitals and it was the only Brazilian city listed^[2] on Jones Lang LaSalle's World Winning Cities.

[edit] Geography, History and Culture

The city is located at a delta resulting from the conjunction of five rivers, forming Guaíba Lake (however, it is popularly known as a river too). Although its origins date from the mid-1700s, when immigrants from the Azores settled in the area, the city was officially established in 1809.

Before this, Porto Alegre was the port of Viamão on the shore of Guaíba Lake. Its ancient name was Porto dos Casais, and it was initially settled by Azorians. Many families of settlers also came from the city of Rio Grande in the littoral Lagunar region, to the south, a military fortress at that time. Today that city is most important port of Rio Grande do Sul state.

Porto Alegre has recently hosted Globaltech, a science and technology trade show which gathered institutions from Latin America.

There are more than 70 neighborhoods (see below) and 2/3 of the population is concentrated in the Zona Norte (Northern Zone), where most of the economic activity, including the city center, is located.

Porto Alegre is the most important industrial center in 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 (barbecue) and chimarrão (a strong tea prepared from erva mate). Several important Brazilian universities, such as UFRGS and PUCRS are located there.

Since 1999, the largest road work ever in the city, the Terceira Perimetral (Third Perimetral) has been under construction. The Terceira Perimetral is 12 km long, connecting the northern and the southern sectors of the city. It is expected to be finished by 2007.

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

Porto Alegre is also one of the wealthiest cities in Latin America, 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 Arab, Jewish and Afro-Brazilian populations are quite significant as well.

[edit] Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods of Porto Alegre are geographical divisions of the city. There is no devolution of administrative powers to neighborhoods, although there are several neighborhoods associations devoted to improve their own standards of living. Porto Alegre has 78 official neighborhoods and 4 unnamed territories: Aberta dos Morros, Chapéu do Sol, Morro Santana and Passo das Pedras.

See also: Neighborhoods of Porto Alegre

[edit] Climate

Porto Alegre has a subtropical climate, with regular precipitation throughout the year. Summer temperatures only occasionally rise above 32ºC, although high levels of humidity make summers very unpleasant. The highest temperature ever registered was 41 ºC in February. Winter has mild temperatures, ranging between 5 ºC to 19 ºC. Snowing is very rare, sometimes confused with sleet. The lowest temperature ever recorded was -4 ºC in July. Occurrence of radiation fog is common, causing several delays in early flights.

A Park of Porto Alegre

[edit] Famous people related to Porto Alegre

• Adriana Calcanhotto, singer and instrumentist
• Ernesto Geisel, military general and politician
• Isaac Karabtchevsky, conductor
• Luís Carlos Prestes, Communist leader
• Mario Quintana, poet
• Elis Regina, singer
• Ronaldinho, footballer
• Diogo Rincon, footballer
• Moacyr Scliar, writer and physician
• Luis Fernando Verissimo, writer
• Daiane dos Santos, gymnast

Moinhos de Vento neighborhood

[edit] References

1. ^ "2003." Prefeitura de Porto Alegre. 16 Sept. 2006 <http://www2.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/infocidade/default.php?p_secao=56>.
2. ^ "2004." Prefeitura de Porto Alegre. 16 Sept. 2006 <http://www2.portoalegre.rs.gov.br/infocidade/default.php?p_secao=57>.

[edit] External links

• Porto Alegre Mayor's Office (in Portuguese)
• City Paper Correio do Povo (The People's Mail)
• City Paper Zero Hora
• Porto Alegre detailed Street Map
• Satellite photo map from Google Maps
• Webcams and photos in Porto Alegre
• Porto Alegre guide tour (in Portuguese)
• Hotel reservations at Porto Alegre

[edit] More pictures of Porto Alegre

Porto Alegre and the Guaíba Lake	Brique da Redenção (Flea Market)	Usina do Gasômetro (literally Gasometer Plant)	Araújo Viana Auditorium
Laçador Statue	Sunset over Porto Alegre	Nossa Sra. das Dores Church	Lutheran Church in Porto Alegre
Public library of Porto Alegre	Climate in Porto Alegre

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