Sete Lagoas
Encyclopedia
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 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...
. The municipal area is 537 km² while the population was 217,506 in 2007.
Location
Sete Lagoas is situated about 70 kilometres from Belo HorizonteBelo 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...
, the capital of Minas Gerais. The BR 040 motorway connects Sete Lagoas with Belo Horizonte and the national capital Brasília
Brasília
Brasília 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...
. The altitude is 761 metres above sea level. It is surrounded by the following municipalities:
Araçaí
Araçaí
Araçaí is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 2,384 people living in a total area of 185 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
, Funilândia
Funilândia
Funilândia is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Prudente de Morais
Prudente de Morais
Prudente José de Morais Barros was the third president of Brazil . His presidency lasted from November 15, 1894 until November 15, 1898...
, Capim Branco
Capim Branco
Capim Branco is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Esmeraldas
Esmeraldas, Minas Gerais
Esmeraldas is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Belo Horizonte. In 2004 its population was estimated to be 58,784 inhabitants.-See also:...
, Inhaúma
Inhaúma
Inhaúma is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Paraopeba
Paraopeba
Paraopeba is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 22,204 people living in a total area of 625 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
, and Caetanópolis
Caetanópolis
Caetanópolis is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 9,490 people living in a total area of 156 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
.
Climate
According to data from the meteorological station of the municipality, the average temperature of the city between the years 1961 to 1990 was 20.9ºC.The coldest monh (July) had an average of 17.5ºC while the hottest month (February) had an average of 23.0ºC.
According to a table, the weather station in the municipality already registered a temperature of 0.6ºC.
Distances to other cities in Minas Gerais
- Montes ClarosMontes ClarosMontes Claros is a city located in northern Minas Gerais state, in Brazil. The estimated population in 2010 was 412,284 inhabitants and the total area of the municipality was 3,470 km²...
: 360 km. - UberabaUberabaUberaba is a city and municipality in the west of the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. Its population is 296.000 with an area of 4529.7 km², giving a density of 60.71 people per km². It is located on a plateau at an elevation of 785 meters and is in the Uberaba River floodplain...
: 1000 km. - UberlândiaUberlândiaUberlândia is the main town in the Triangle region, west of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. With a population of 604,013 inhabitants, according to 2010 estimates, the city is the second largest in the state second only to Belo Horizonte...
: 564 km. - Tres MariasTrês MariasTrês Marias is a small Brazilian city in northwestern Minas Gerais. In 2007 the population was 26,431 in a total area of 2,763 km².-Climate:...
: 181 km - Governador ValadaresGovernador ValadaresGovernador Valadares is a Brazilian 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...
: 263 km. - Juíz de ForaJuiz de Fora-Industry, Trade, and Culture:Juiz de Fora is the second most important industrial center in the state of Minas Gerais, despite being the fourth largest in terms of population. It was once the state's largest city, position which was held up until the beginning of the 20th century...
: 236 km. - FunilandiaFunilândiaFunilândia is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
: 18 km
Statistical Micro-region of Sete Lagoas
Sete Lagoas is also a statistical micro-region with 20 municipalities: AraçaíAraçaí
Araçaí is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 2,384 people living in a total area of 185 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
, Baldim
Baldim
Baldim is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2006 is estimated to be 7,986 people living in a total area of 554.029 km². The city belongs to the mesoregion Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the microregion of Sete Lagoas.-See also:* List of...
, Cachoeira da Prata
Cachoeira da Prata
Cachoeira da Prata is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Caetanópolis
Caetanópolis
Caetanópolis is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 9,490 people living in a total area of 156 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
, Capim Branco
Capim Branco
Capim Branco is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Cordisburgo
Cordisburgo
Cordisburgo is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil....
, Fortuna de Minas
Fortuna de Minas
Fortuna de Minas is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Funilândia
Funilândia
Funilândia is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Inhaúma
Inhaúma
Inhaúma is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Jaboticatubas
Jaboticatubas
Jaboticatubas is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Jequitibá
Jequitibá
Jequitibá is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Maravilhas
Maravilhas
Maravilhas is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Matozinhos
Matozinhos
Matozinhos is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Papagaios
Papagaios
Papagaio is a small town in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It has approximately 15,000 inhabitants and its economy is based on exports of slate.Papagaio is 150 kilometers away from the state capital, Belo Horizonte....
, Paraopeba
Paraopeba
Paraopeba is a Brazilian municipality located in the northeast of the state of Minas Gerais. Its population as of 2007 was 22,204 people living in a total area of 625 km². The city belongs to the meso-region of Metropolitana de Belo Horizonte and to the micro-region of Sete Lagoas...
, Pequi
Pequi, Minas Gerais
Pequi, Minas Gerais is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Prudente de Morais
Prudente de Morais, Minas Gerais
Prudente de Morais, Minas Gerais is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, Santana de Pirapama
Santana de Pirapama
Santana de Pirapama is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its population was cauculated in 2006 with 8,175 inhabitants.- History :...
, Santana do Riacho
Santana do Riacho
Santana do Riacho is a town and municipality in the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast region of Brazil.-References:...
, and Sete Lagoas. In 2000 the population of this area was 341,568 inhabitants in a total area of 8,560.40 km².
Economic activities
The economy is based on services, industry and some agriculture. The GDP in 2005 was R$2 billion 800 million, with 1 billion 120 million from services, 1 billion 250 thousand from industry, and 17 million from agriculture. There were 824 transformation industries in 2005 with 15,000 workers. Heavy industry was important with 23 factories producing mainly pig ironPig iron
Pig iron is the intermediate product of smelting iron ore with a high-carbon fuel such as coke, usually with limestone as a flux. Charcoal and anthracite have also been used as fuel...
. There is an Iveco-Fiat plant, which opened in 2001, that produces trucks and vans.
Health and education
In 2005 there were 51 public and 53 private health clinics. There were 5 hospitals with 315 beds. Educational needs were met by 86 primary schools (29 private), 30 middle schools (9 private), and 56 pre-primary schools (36 private).In higher education there was the private Centro Universitario de Sete Lagoas, the private Faculdade Cenecista de Sete Lagoas, a campus of the private Faculdade Promove de Sete Lagoas, the private Faculdade Ciências da Vida - FCV , the private Faculdade Sete Lagoas de Minas Gerais - FSLMG, and the private Faculdade Setelagoana de Ciências Gerenciais - FASCIG. See Mundo Vestibular
History
Evidence of pre-Columbian presence has been found in the Gruta Rei do MatoGruta Rei do Mato
The Gruta Rei do Mato is a cave located near Sete Lagoas in Minas Gerais, Brazil, at the edge of the BR 040 highway, close to the off ramp to the city. From Sete Lagoas the cave can easily be reached by bus, taxi or car. Sete Lagoas is 70 kilometres from Belo Horizonte.The Gruta Rei do Mato has...
(Cave of the Forest King).
From around 1700, colonists entered Minas Gerais in search of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
, gems
Gemstone
A gemstone or gem is a piece of mineral, which, in cut and polished form, is used to make jewelry or other adornments...
and diamond
Diamond
In mineralogy, diamond is an allotrope of carbon, where the carbon atoms are arranged in a variation of the face-centered cubic crystal structure called a diamond lattice. Diamond is less stable than graphite, but the conversion rate from diamond to graphite is negligible at ambient conditions...
s. Nowadays, the Santa Luzia quarter is unofficially still called "o garimpo" (meaning "the goldmine").
Between 1780 and 1867, the name 'Sete Lagoas' was used for several regional types of administrations. The municipality of Sete Lagoas was founded in 1867.
Although "Sete Lagoas" means "Seven Lakes", there are currently more than seven lakes in Sete Lagoas (10 within the urban perimetre, 17 in the municipality). Some were dug out while others became part of the town when the town expanded. There are, however, 7 'official' lakes according to a municipal law from 1989. These are: Lagoa da Boa Vista, Lagoa da Catarina, Lagoa da Chácara, Lagoa do Cercadinho, Lagoa José Felix, Lagoa do Matadouro and Lagoa Paulino.
Food
Food is an important element of the culture of Minas Gerais. In Sete Lagoas, two dishes can be found that are hardly found elsewhere: Galopé and Muchacho. Galopé is a dish of chicken (galo) and pork feet (pé de porco). Muchacho is also composed of chicken and pork but it also contains cheese.Sports
Democrata Futebol ClubeDemocrata Futebol Clube
Democrata Futebol Clube, also referred to as Democrata de Sete Lagoas, Democrata-SL or just Democrata, is a Brazilian association football team from the city of Sete Lagoas in Minas Gerais state.-History:...
is a soccer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in Sete Lagoas. The club plays its home matches at the Arena do Jacaré
Arena do Jacaré
The Estádio Joaquim Henrique Nogueira, or Nogueirão, also nicknamed Arena do Jacaré , is a soccer stadium located in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state, it seats 25,000 people...
("Alligator Arena", so named because of Democrata's mascot; the official name is Joaquim Henrique Nogueira stadium). Other football clubs are Ideal Sport Club, Bela Vista Futebol Clube and América Futebol Clube.
In 2010 and 2011, Arena do Jacaré serves as a home stadium for Atlético-MG
Clube Atlético Mineiro
Clube Atlético Mineiro , are a Brazilian football club based in Belo Horizonte, the oldest in the city. Founded in 1908, they play in the Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or Brasileirão. Atlético Mineiro have been Brazilian champions once, state winners a record 40 times and...
, Cruzeiro
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
and América-MG, as both 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...
stadia - Mineirão
Mineirão
Mineirão , officially Estádio Governador Magalhães Pinto established in 1965 in Belo Horizonte, is the largest football stadium in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and the second largest in the country, after Maracanã...
and Independência
Estádio Independência
The Estádio Raimundo Sampaio, usually known as Estádio Independência, is in the neighborhood of Horto in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil and was opened in 1950 for the FIFA World Cup held in Brazil that year. Initially with capacity for 30,000 people, currently has capacity for 25,000 people...
- are going through reforms.
External links
- Official homepage (Portuguese)
- Pictures of Sete Lagoas made by paraglider Arnaldo Macedo Pontes
(This website is a bit slow but it is really worth the wait)