Guaporé, Rio Grande do Sul
Encyclopedia
Guaporé is a Brazil
ian municipality located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul
. It is the state's greatest jewelry and lingerie
producer, ranking second in the country. The city was mainly colonized by Italian immigrants
in the 19th century and still retains their traditions. The name comes from the Guaraní language
and its meaning is disputed, most likely being Desert Valley.
, a smaller number of German
cattle herders also established themselves in the area now known as São Valentim do Sul
, both towns that used to be part of Guaporé.
In 1892 the colony of Guaporé was established, on area belonging to the cities of Lajeado and Passo Fundo
. The colony's manager, Eng. José Montauri de Aguiar Leitão, designated to Eng. Vespasiano Corrêa the task of zoning and dividing the town's area in some 5000 shares of 0.25 to 0.30 km2. Soon after, settlers from the first Italian colonies in the state (mainly Caxias do Sul
, Bento Gonçalves
and Veranópolis
) came to the newly-formed town and, in 1896, the colony had already reached 7,000 inhabitants.
In 1897 the Santo Antônio Parish
was created, under the Porto Alegre
Diocese
, being an important step the formation of a city in local culture. By 1900 the population had grown to 13,727. This success led to the formal establishment, on 11 December 1903, of the Municipality of Guaporé, with Eng. Vespasiano Rodrigues Corrêa as the first mayor, inaugurated on the 1st of January 1904.
By 1910, Guaporé had around 30,000 inhabitants, even more than today, with 1,020 living in the town center, which had over 170 buildings, a town square, telegraph, post office and church. Agriculture was the most important economical activity, the main crops being rice, beans, corn, soy, orange and vines. Furthermore, 82 businesses and a few industries were established by the time, producing aguardente, wine, cheese and lard
.
Through the years, several districts emancipated from Guaporé, significantly reducing the city's area and population. Today, several municipalities make up what was once Guaporé, the largest being Casca
(emancipated in 1954), Muçum
(1959), Serafina Corrêa
(1960) and Dois Lajeados
(1987), among many others.
In 1907, with the arrival of the Pasqualli family to the city, the industry that would become an economical backbone had its humble beginnings as they applied their goldsmith knowledge to become the first jewellers established in Guaporé.
Over a hundred years after its foundation, Guaporé has set itself as an important commercial, industrial, cultural and touristic centre for dozens of cities in the region.
formed in the end of the Mesozoic Era
. It is in an area of Basaltic Rock
, that lay's upon layers of Arenite
and Granite
. The rivers Carreiro and Guaporé flow on the eastern and western borders of the city, respectively.
, summers are cool and winters are moderately cold, with common occurrence of frost
and occasional snow
fall.
and Polish
descendants, as well as other European nationalities. Despite generations of foreign influence, those of Italian descent still maintain several traditions including the use of the Talian dialect, itself derived from the Venetian language
, an Italian dialect. Furthermore, the cold winters gave rise to the tradition of gathering family and friends around wood-burning-stoves (used for heating and cooking) to eat pine nut
s, chat and play cards. Typical Italian cousine is very common and served in any occasion. Hunting and fishing, once important sources of sustenance, have now become usual pastime sports.
The Gaucho
culture has also found its way into peoples lives over time. Nowadays the tradition of drinking chimarrão is very widespread, and public celebrations of the Farroupilha Revolution are held every year in the central square, usually on the week leading up to the state holiday of September 20.
Main tourist attractions include:
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 municipality located 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...
. It is the state's greatest jewelry and lingerie
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
producer, ranking second in the country. The city was mainly colonized by Italian immigrants
Italian Brazilian
-Italian immigration to Brazil:The Italian government claims there are 25 million Brazilians of Italian descent, which would be the largest population of Italian background outside of Italy itself. There are no actual surveys, or even verifiable calculations supporting such claims. According to...
in the 19th century and still retains their traditions. The name comes from the Guaraní language
Guaraní language
Guaraní, specifically the primary variety known as Paraguayan Guaraní , is an indigenous language of South America that belongs to the Tupí–Guaraní subfamily of the Tupian languages. It is one of the official languages of Paraguay , where it is spoken by the majority of the population, and half of...
and its meaning is disputed, most likely being Desert Valley.
History
The immigrant settlement that would eventually give birth to the city began in the early 19th century in the area that is the present-day municipality of MuçumMuçum
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
, a smaller number of German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
cattle herders also established themselves in the area now known as São Valentim do Sul
São Valentim do Sul
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
, both towns that used to be part of Guaporé.
In 1892 the colony of Guaporé was established, on area belonging to the cities of Lajeado and Passo Fundo
Passo Fundo
Passo Fundo - RS is a city in the north of the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is named after its river. It's the twelfth largest city in the state with an estimated population of 188,302 inhabitants living in a total municipal area of 780 km2.-Communications:The following...
. The colony's manager, Eng. José Montauri de Aguiar Leitão, designated to Eng. Vespasiano Corrêa the task of zoning and dividing the town's area in some 5000 shares of 0.25 to 0.30 km2. Soon after, settlers from the first Italian colonies in the state (mainly Caxias do Sul
Caxias do Sul
Caxias do Sul is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, situated in the state's mountainous Serra Gaúcha region. Coordinates: 29°10′0″ S, 51°11′0″ W....
, Bento Gonçalves
Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul
Bento Gonçalves is a town located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Created in 1875, it is one of the centres of the Italian immigration in Brazil. It is also known as the 'wine capital of Brazil', due to its vineyards and wine production...
and Veranópolis
Veranópolis
Veranópolis is a municipality in the state Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Veranópolis, like most of its neighbouring towns, is known as one of the cities with highest standards of living in Brazil. The city is also known for being home to one of the largest gun exporters in Brazil, E.R...
) came to the newly-formed town and, in 1896, the colony had already reached 7,000 inhabitants.
In 1897 the Santo Antônio Parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
was created, under the Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre is the tenth most populous municipality in Brazil, with 1,409,939 inhabitants, and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area . It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian...
Diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, being an important step the formation of a city in local culture. By 1900 the population had grown to 13,727. This success led to the formal establishment, on 11 December 1903, of the Municipality of Guaporé, with Eng. Vespasiano Rodrigues Corrêa as the first mayor, inaugurated on the 1st of January 1904.
By 1910, Guaporé had around 30,000 inhabitants, even more than today, with 1,020 living in the town center, which had over 170 buildings, a town square, telegraph, post office and church. Agriculture was the most important economical activity, the main crops being rice, beans, corn, soy, orange and vines. Furthermore, 82 businesses and a few industries were established by the time, producing aguardente, wine, cheese and lard
Lard
Lard is pig fat in both its rendered and unrendered forms. Lard was commonly used in many cuisines as a cooking fat or shortening, or as a spread similar to butter. Its use in contemporary cuisine has diminished because of health concerns posed by its saturated-fat content and its often negative...
.
Through the years, several districts emancipated from Guaporé, significantly reducing the city's area and population. Today, several municipalities make up what was once Guaporé, the largest being Casca
Casca, Rio Grande do Sul
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
(emancipated in 1954), Muçum
Muçum
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
(1959), Serafina Corrêa
Serafina Corrêa
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
(1960) and Dois Lajeados
Dois Lajeados
-See also:*List of municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul...
(1987), among many others.
The Immigrants
Upon their arrival, throughout the 19th century, the immigrants were devoid of anything of value and had to rely on their strong will and bold spirits to build a new life on a new land. With over a century gone by, the memory of these origins is still felt in the religious strength and willingness to work of the community. The religious passion is clearly seen in the numerous chapels on rural areas and the Central Church, built in Neogothic style between 1897 and 1947. The city also has a 13 m Christ statue placed on a 7 m pedestal on the city's tallest mountain.In 1907, with the arrival of the Pasqualli family to the city, the industry that would become an economical backbone had its humble beginnings as they applied their goldsmith knowledge to become the first jewellers established in Guaporé.
Over a hundred years after its foundation, Guaporé has set itself as an important commercial, industrial, cultural and touristic centre for dozens of cities in the region.
Geography
Guaporé is located on the Serra Gaúcha a mountainous area of the north-eastern Rio Grande do Sul. The city center is at an altitude of 478 m above sea level, although some peaks reach the 700 m mark. It is situated between the highlands of the Planalto and lowlands of the Depressão Central and is composed of Igneous rockIgneous rock
Igneous rock is one of the three main rock types, the others being sedimentary and metamorphic rock. Igneous rock is formed through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava...
formed in the end of the Mesozoic Era
Mesozoic
The Mesozoic era is an interval of geological time from about 250 million years ago to about 65 million years ago. It is often referred to as the age of reptiles because reptiles, namely dinosaurs, were the dominant terrestrial and marine vertebrates of the time...
. It is in an area of Basaltic Rock
Basalt
Basalt is a common extrusive volcanic rock. It is usually grey to black and fine-grained due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface of a planet. It may be porphyritic containing larger crystals in a fine matrix, or vesicular, or frothy scoria. Unweathered basalt is black or grey...
, that lay's upon layers of Arenite
Arenite
Arenite is a sedimentary clastic rock with sand grain size between 0.0625 mm and 2 mm and contain less than 15% matrix. The related adjective is arenaceous...
and Granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
. The rivers Carreiro and Guaporé flow on the eastern and western borders of the city, respectively.
Climate
Due to its location, Guaporé is subject to a Humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, summers are cool and winters are moderately cold, with common occurrence of frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
and occasional snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
fall.
Statistics
Below are some available figures on the city's economy and life.- GDPGross domestic productGross domestic product refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. GDP per capita is often considered an indicator of a country's standard of living....
: R$ 323,682,673 IBGE/2008 - GDP per capita: R$ 14468.20 IBGE/2008
- Total ExportsExportThe term export is derived from the conceptual meaning as to ship the goods and services out of the port of a country. The seller of such goods and services is referred to as an "exporter" who is based in the country of export whereas the overseas based buyer is referred to as an "importer"...
: US$ 18,509,548 FOBFOB (shipping)FOB is an initialism which pertains to the shipping of goods. Depending on specific usage, it may stand for Free On Board or Freight On Board. FOB specifies which party pays for which shipment and loading costs, and/or where responsibility for the goods is transferred...
2008
- HDIHuman Development IndexThe Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
: 0.826 high UNDPUnited Nations Development ProgrammeThe United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
/2000 - Illiteracy: 6.48% 2000
- Life expectancyLife expectancyLife expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
: 73.84 years 2000 - Infant mortality rate: 3.83 2007
Culture
In addition to the Italian majority, there is significant presence of GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
descendants, as well as other European nationalities. Despite generations of foreign influence, those of Italian descent still maintain several traditions including the use of the Talian dialect, itself derived from the Venetian language
Venetian language
Venetian or Venetan is a Romance language spoken as a native language by over two million people, mostly in the Veneto region of Italy, where of five million inhabitants almost all can understand it. It is sometimes spoken and often well understood outside Veneto, in Trentino, Friuli, Venezia...
, an Italian dialect. Furthermore, the cold winters gave rise to the tradition of gathering family and friends around wood-burning-stoves (used for heating and cooking) to eat pine nut
Pine nut
Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pines . About 20 species of pine produce seeds large enough to be worth harvesting; in other pines the seeds are also edible, but are too small to be of great value as a human food....
s, chat and play cards. Typical Italian cousine is very common and served in any occasion. Hunting and fishing, once important sources of sustenance, have now become usual pastime sports.
The Gaucho
Gaucho
Gaucho is a term commonly used to describe residents of the South American pampas, chacos, or Patagonian grasslands, found principally in parts of Argentina, Uruguay, Southern Chile, and Southern Brazil...
culture has also found its way into peoples lives over time. Nowadays the tradition of drinking chimarrão is very widespread, and public celebrations of the Farroupilha Revolution are held every year in the central square, usually on the week leading up to the state holiday of September 20.
Tourism
The city has always attracted tourists from many places and for many different reasons, be it shopping tourism, racing enthusiasts, railway fans, religious people or even those simply attracted by the small town charm.Main tourist attractions include:
- Igreja Matriz de Santo Antônio - city's central church built in French Neogothic style starting in 1947 and being completed 50 years later. The church was designed by the Italian Tiziano Bettanin. In 1998 a fire partially destroyed the church, completely collapsing its roof. The temple was quickly rebuilt and by 1999 was already reopened.
- Christ the Redeemer Statue - The 13 m tall statue is placed on a 7 m pedestal on top of a 741 m peak west of the city centre. Every year, on Good FridayGood FridayGood Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
, thousands march up the mountain in honour of ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
's sacrifice.
- Guaporé Commercial Center - With dozens of Jewellery and Lingerie shops, it attracts tourists from all over on the look for new items and low prices.
- Vespasiano Corrêa Square - Central square in the center of town, bordered by the Santo Antônio Church, City HallCity hallIn local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
and the city's main streets.
- Autódromo Internacional de GuaporéAutódromo Internacional de GuaporéAutódromo Internacional de Guaporé is a motorsports circuit in Guaporé, a small city in southern Brazil. It is one of the oldest race tracks in the country and traditionally hosts events such as a yearly race in the Brazilian Fórmula Truck Championship, as well as several legs of the various local...
- Racetrack that has always offered entertainment to the local population and numerous tourists. The main event is the yearly leg of the Formula Truck championship, a Brazilian Truck RacingTruck RacingTruck racing is a form of motor racing which involves modified versions of heavy tractor units on racing circuits.The sport started in England in 1984 with the first race held at Donington Park and enjoyed great success, but declined in the 1990s. However, in the last few years the profile of...
competition.
- Kartódromo - Kart track by the aforementioned racetrack.
- Ferrovia do Trigo (WheatWheatWheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
Railway) - Railway built in the 60s and 70s to complete the connection of the whole north-east of the state to the capital. The mountainous terrain ensued in the construction of over 20 viaducts and bridges as well as several tunnels of up to 2 km in length. Every year, many enthusiasts walk these rails in order to catch a glimpse of the amazing and beautiful engineering works.
Sport and Leisure
Many locations are available to the population for practising sports and other leisure activities. Many football fields are spread throughout the city and many locals have some sort of countryside retreat for the weekends. Other sport and leisure options include:- Autódromo Internacional de GuaporéAutódromo Internacional de GuaporéAutódromo Internacional de Guaporé is a motorsports circuit in Guaporé, a small city in southern Brazil. It is one of the oldest race tracks in the country and traditionally hosts events such as a yearly race in the Brazilian Fórmula Truck Championship, as well as several legs of the various local...
- Aside from the many races held in the local motorsports circuit over the whole year, the area still holds a Kart Racing Track, a swimming poolSwimming poolA swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, campingCampingCamping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
area and facilities for the traditional Sunday barbecues and other activities.
- AFAG - Caça e Pesca - Offers areas for fishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, Shooting SportsShootingShooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
, Camping and Off-road motorcycling.
- AABB (Banco do BrasilBanco do BrasilBanco do Brasil S.A. is the largest Brazilian and Latin American bank by assets, and the third by market value. The bank, headquartered in Brasília, was founded in 1808 and is the oldest active bank in Brazil — and one of the oldest financial institutions in the world.Banco do Brasil is controlled...
Athletic Association) - With a football field and facilities for parties and other events, the usually members-only location is often rented for private occasions.
- Clube União Guaporense - The old building by the central square hosts a restaurant and ballroomBallroomA ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
used by many for celebrations. Swimming Pools, TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
Courts, SnookerSnookerSnooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
and card playingCard gameA card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
tables are also available for members.
- Guaporé AerodromeAerodromeAn aerodrome, airdrome or airfield is a term for any location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve cargo, passengers or neither...
- (ICAO: SSGR) The airfield's 1,100 m gravel runway is occasionally used by light aircraftLight aircraftA light aircraft is an aircraft that has a maximum gross take-off weight of or less.Many aircraft used commercially for freight, sightseeing, photography and scheduled flights are light aircraft.Examples of light aircraft include:...
.
Notable people
- Renato GaúchoRenato GaúchoRenato Gaúcho, real name Renato Portaluppi is a former association footballer who played forward and a football manager, he was born in Guaporé, Rio Grande do Sul.He is currently unemployed...
: retired football player, having played for clubs such as EsportivoClube Esportivo de Bento GonçalvesClube Esportivo Bento Gonçalves, usually known as Esportivo de Bento Gonçalves or simply as Esportivo is a Brazilian football club from Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul state.-History:...
, GrêmioGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto AlegrenseGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
, FlamengoClube de Regatas do FlamengoClube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
, BotafogoBotafogo de Futebol e RegatasBotafogo de Futebol e Regatas , also known as Botafogo and familiarly as Estrela Solitária, is a Brazilian sports club based in Botafogo, neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, best known for its football team. They play in the Campeonato Carioca, Rio de Janeiro's state league, and the Campeonato...
and FluminenseFluminense Football ClubFluminense Football Club is a sports club based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Founded in the beginning of the 20th century as a single-sport institution, Fluminense is today an umbrella organization for several teams in more than 16 different sport activities. The most popular endeavor of Fluminense,...
, currently coaches GrêmioGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto AlegrenseGrêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, commonly known as just Grêmio , is a Brazilian professional association football team based in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul founded by English and German immigrants on September 15, 1903. Major titles captured by Grêmio include one Intercontinental Cup, two Copa...
.