Passa Quatro

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Passa-Quatro is a municipality (município) in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. The population in 2000 was 14,485, and 15,300 in 2003. The density is 55.23/km² and the area is 277 km². It is part of the microrregião of São Lourenço.

The city was declared a hydro-mineral spa in 1941 due to its various fountains of torio-radioactive waters, which are reputedly sought out for curing liver and kidney problems.

The winter is dry and the summer mild with temperatures varying between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius. In winter they can drop to 0 degrees with strong frost. The rural area has beautiful scenery, with views of four of the ten highest peaks in the country.

In the municipality there is a natural forest controlled by IBAMA - A Floresta Nacional de Passa Quatro, with native forest, exotic species, lakes, and the Iporã waterfall. Trout fishing is possible all year.

A new touristic train service (narrow gauge) was inaugurated in the beginning of 2004 between the cities of Passa Quatro and Manacá.

[edit] History

The origin of the name comes from the explorations of the bandeirante Fernão Dias Pais who was given instructions to pass over a river four times, thus "Passa Quatro". The first inhabitants settled the region in 1674.

The region wasn't populated until the second half of the 19th century (seculo dezenove) when it became a district in 1854. In 1884, the Minas-Rio railway was constructed by the English and this was a spur to its development. Dom Pedro I elevated the town to a city in 1888.

[edit] Geography

Mountains include the fourth tallest peak in Brazil, the Pedra da Mina (2,798 m) located within Serra Fina and the point of Serra do Mantiqueira where the boundary of São Paulo is located. The Pico dos Três Estados is another landmark located on the boundaries of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. There are dozens of other peaks over 2,000 m.