Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul
Encyclopedia
Rio Grande is the oldest city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
and also the former state capital from 1835 to 1845. It is the most important port city in the state and has one of the most important maritime ports in Brazil
.
The city is named after a nearby channel which indirectly connects the Lagoa dos Patos
, to the northeast, and Lagoa Mirim
, to the west, with the Atlantic Ocean
. The municipality is bordered by Santa Vitória do Palmar
on the south and Pelotas
on the north, which lies across the São Gonçalo Channel
.
The city built up its wealth over the course of its long history of strong industrial movements. Today it is still one of the richest cities in Rio Grande do Sul, mainly because of its port, the second busiest in Brazil, and its refinary, which processes Ipiranga petroleum
.
The city is served by Rio Grande Airport
.
who sought fortified places along the southern Brazilian coast for a defense against the French corsair
s. He discovered the tributary which indirectly connects the Lagoa dos Patos
and Lagoa Mirim
to the Atlantic Ocean
and called the place Rio Grande de São Pedro (lit. "Large River of St. Peter").
In 1669, the Portuguese established a colony further down the South American coastline along the Río de la Plata
, which they called Colônia do Sacramento
. With the first permanent Portuguese settlement in the region, livestock was introduced and began to spread far and wide over the territory. With the new settlers, the Portuguese decided to make a church-sanctioned settlement and, in 1736, created the Freguesia de São Pedro which covered what is today all of Uruguay
and Rio Grande do Sul.
The city of Rio Grande was founded in 1737 by Brigadier General José da Silva Pais
and his men to defend Portugal's territory. The Jesus Maria e José Fort was constructed, which was built on the site of the future city. The fort was transformed into a town when colonists from the Azores
and Madeira
arrived in the 1750s. In 1751, the growing colony became the Village of Rio Grande de São Pedro. In 1760, Rio Grande de São Pedro, which was formerly governed from Santa Catarina
became its own captaincy, a type of administrative division.
In 1763 the village was occupied by the Spanish. After constant disputes, Portugal reconquered the village in 1776, thanks to the actions of General Rafael Pinto Bandeira. However, when the fortress was taken by Spanish troops, many families fled to Viamão
and established around its port the city of Porto Alegre
.
During the War of Tatters
, Rio Grande became a city and the province's capital all at once. In 1835, revolutionary General Bento Gonçalves da Silva
forced Antônio Rodrigues Fernandes Braga, the provincial president, to flee from Porto Alegre
to Rio Grande, a journey of about 200 km. The city remained the province's seat of government until the revolution's end in 1845.
Rio Grande, as the name suggests, is a littoral city, which boasts what many call the longest beach in the world—the Praia do Cassino
. This beach is approximately 250 km (155 mi) of uninterrupted Atlantic
coastline. The entire municipality lies at a very low altitude—at its highest point only 10 meters (33 ft) above sea level. Additionally, the city, which is surrounded by water, sinks about one centimeter every year.
The city is named after its 24-mile long tidal channel which indirectly mingles the waters of the Lagoa dos Patos
and Lagoa Mirim
with the Atlantic Ocean
. The largest and most populous island in the Lagoa dos Patos is the Ilha dos Marinheiros
, which is part of the municipality.
For the most part, Rio Grande is made up of fields of low and herbacious vegetation, characteristic of the Uruguayan savanna
. There are also planted trees, mostly eucalyptus
and pine
. Sand dunes are found all up and down the coastline.
The climate of Rio Grande is subtropical and mild, with a strong oceanic influence and relatively cool winters, warm summers and regular precipitation all year. The average temperature in the city is 17.6°C (63.7°F) and the average annual precipitation is 1,162 mm (45.75 in). The hottest month is January, with an average temperature of 22°C (71.6°F). The coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 13°C (55.4°F), but due to intense winds in the city, the wind chill temperature frequently drops to 6°C (42°F).
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...
and also the former state capital from 1835 to 1845. It is the most important port city in the state and has one of the most important maritime ports in 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...
.
The city is named after a nearby channel which indirectly connects the Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos is the second largest lagoon in Latin America and the biggest in Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It is 174 miles long, has a maximum width of 44 miles , and a total area of 3,803 sq. mi....
, to the northeast, and Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim or Laguna Merín is a large estuarine lagoon which extends from southern Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil into eastern Uruguay. Lagoa Mirim is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandy, partially barren isthmus....
, to the west, with the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The municipality is bordered by Santa Vitória do Palmar
Santa Vitória do Palmar
Santa Vitória do Palmar is a city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. To the west of the municipality is the Lagoa Mirim and beyond that is Uruguay; to the east is the Atlantic Ocean and to the north is the city of Rio Grande...
on the south and Pelotas
Pelotas
Pelotas is a Brazilian city and municipality , the third most populous in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. Pelotas is located 270 km from Porto Alegre, the capital city of the state, and 130 km from the Uruguayan border...
on the north, which lies across the São Gonçalo Channel
São Gonçalo Channel
The São Gonçalo Channel is a navigable channel connecting two large coastal lagoons, Lagoa Mirim and Lagoa dos Patos, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. At its eastern end, it separates the municipalities of Rio Grande to the south from Pelotas to the north....
.
The city built up its wealth over the course of its long history of strong industrial movements. Today it is still one of the richest cities in Rio Grande do Sul, mainly because of its port, the second busiest in Brazil, and its refinary, which processes Ipiranga petroleum
Petroleo Ipiranga
Empresas Petróleo Ipiranga is a Brazilian conglomerate that are in the field of refining and distribution of oil.It also has business in petrochemical and chemical industries....
.
The city is served by Rio Grande Airport
Rio Grande Airport
Rio Grande Airport , also known as Gustavo Cramer Airport is the airport serving Rio Grande, Brazil.It is operated by DAP.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:...
.
History
The history of Rio Grande is as old as the history of the whole region. It was explored by Portuguese sailors led by Martim Afonso de SousaMartim Afonso de Sousa
Martim Afonso de Sousa was a Portuguese fidalgo and explorer.Born in Vila Viçosa, he was commander of the first official Portuguese expedition into mainland Brazil...
who sought fortified places along the southern Brazilian coast for a defense against the French corsair
Corsair
Corsairs were privateers, authorized to conduct raids on shipping of a nation at war with France, on behalf of the French Crown. Seized vessels and cargo were sold at auction, with the corsair captain entitled to a portion of the proceeds...
s. He discovered the tributary which indirectly connects the Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos is the second largest lagoon in Latin America and the biggest in Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It is 174 miles long, has a maximum width of 44 miles , and a total area of 3,803 sq. mi....
and Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim or Laguna Merín is a large estuarine lagoon which extends from southern Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil into eastern Uruguay. Lagoa Mirim is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandy, partially barren isthmus....
to the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and called the place Rio Grande de São Pedro (lit. "Large River of St. Peter").
In 1669, the Portuguese established a colony further down the South American coastline along the Río de la Plata
Río de la Plata
The Río de la Plata —sometimes rendered River Plate in British English and the Commonwealth, and occasionally rendered [La] Plata River in other English-speaking countries—is the river and estuary formed by the confluence of the Uruguay River and the Paraná River on the border between Argentina and...
, which they called Colônia do Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento
Colonia del Sacramento is a city in southwestern Uruguay, by the Río de la Plata, facing Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the oldest town in Uruguay and capital of the departamento of Colonia. It has a population of around 22,000.It is renowned for its historic quarter, a World Heritage Site...
. With the first permanent Portuguese settlement in the region, livestock was introduced and began to spread far and wide over the territory. With the new settlers, the Portuguese decided to make a church-sanctioned settlement and, in 1736, created the Freguesia de São Pedro which covered what is today all of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
and Rio Grande do Sul.
The city of Rio Grande was founded in 1737 by Brigadier General José da Silva Pais
José da Silva Pais
José da Silva Pais was a Portuguese soldier and colony administrator.He was involved in diverse situations in the disputed territories between the Portuguese and Spanish in the territory that today is the South region in Brazil...
and his men to defend Portugal's territory. The Jesus Maria e José Fort was constructed, which was built on the site of the future city. The fort was transformed into a town when colonists from the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
and Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
arrived in the 1750s. In 1751, the growing colony became the Village of Rio Grande de São Pedro. In 1760, Rio Grande de São Pedro, which was formerly governed from Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
became its own captaincy, a type of administrative division.
In 1763 the village was occupied by the Spanish. After constant disputes, Portugal reconquered the village in 1776, thanks to the actions of General Rafael Pinto Bandeira. However, when the fortress was taken by Spanish troops, many families fled to Viamão
Viamão
Viamão is a city in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. In size it is the largest municipality in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and the seventh most populous in the state.The origin of the name Viamão is controversial...
and established around its port the city of 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...
.
During the War of Tatters
War of Tatters
The War of the Ragamuffins was a Republican uprising that began in southern Brazil, in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in 1835...
, Rio Grande became a city and the province's capital all at once. In 1835, revolutionary General Bento Gonçalves da Silva
Bento Gonçalves da Silva
General Bento Gonçalves da Silva, , was a Tatter Revolutionary leader and President of the Piratini Republic ....
forced Antônio Rodrigues Fernandes Braga, the provincial president, to flee from 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...
to Rio Grande, a journey of about 200 km. The city remained the province's seat of government until the revolution's end in 1845.
Geography
Praia do Cassino
Praia do Cassino is located adjacent to the city of Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is commonly known in Brazil as the longest beach in the world , stretching from the Molhes in Cassino beach to nearly Chuí, on...
. This beach is approximately 250 km (155 mi) of uninterrupted Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coastline. The entire municipality lies at a very low altitude—at its highest point only 10 meters (33 ft) above sea level. Additionally, the city, which is surrounded by water, sinks about one centimeter every year.
The city is named after its 24-mile long tidal channel which indirectly mingles the waters of the Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos
Lagoa dos Patos is the second largest lagoon in Latin America and the biggest in Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. It is 174 miles long, has a maximum width of 44 miles , and a total area of 3,803 sq. mi....
and Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim
Lagoa Mirim or Laguna Merín is a large estuarine lagoon which extends from southern Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil into eastern Uruguay. Lagoa Mirim is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a sandy, partially barren isthmus....
with the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The largest and most populous island in the Lagoa dos Patos is the Ilha dos Marinheiros
Ilha dos Marinheiros
Ilha dos Marinheiros is an island located in the south part of a lagoon named Lagoa dos Patos, located in the municipality of Rio Grande, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It is situated on the west bank of that lagoon...
, which is part of the municipality.
For the most part, Rio Grande is made up of fields of low and herbacious vegetation, characteristic of the Uruguayan savanna
Uruguayan savanna
The Uruguayan savanna, also known as the Brazilian-Uruguayan savanna, is a subtropical grassland and savanna ecoregion which includes all of Uruguay, some areas of northeastern Argentina and southernmost Brazil.-Flora:...
. There are also planted trees, mostly eucalyptus
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
. Sand dunes are found all up and down the coastline.
The climate of Rio Grande is subtropical and mild, with a strong oceanic influence and relatively cool winters, warm summers and regular precipitation all year. The average temperature in the city is 17.6°C (63.7°F) and the average annual precipitation is 1,162 mm (45.75 in). The hottest month is January, with an average temperature of 22°C (71.6°F). The coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 13°C (55.4°F), but due to intense winds in the city, the wind chill temperature frequently drops to 6°C (42°F).