São Paulo (state)

São Paulo (pron. IPA: [sɐ̃w̃ 'paw.lu]) is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. It is named after Saint Paul.

1 Geography
2 Economy
3 Transportation
4 Demographics
5 Government and politics
6 Sports
7 Governor
8 Federal senators
9 Main cities
10 See also
11 External links

[edit] Geography

The state of São Paulo has an area of approximately 248,800 km² (95,700 mi²), and a population of about 40 million (21.5% of the population of Brazil), which makes it the most populous country subdivision in the Western Hemisphere. The climate of São Paulo is tropical to subtropical, altitude being the largest contributor to what variation there is. The capital, São Paulo, barely outside the tropics in the south of the state and about 800 meters (2,600 feet) above sea level, has daily minima and maxima averaging about 19°C and 28°C (66°F and 82°F) respectively at the warmest time of year and about 12°C and 22°C (54°F and 72°F) respectively at the coolest time of year. Temperatures reach around 33°C (91°F) on the hottest days and fall as low as 5°C (41°F) on the coldest nights. In the low-lying northwest of the state, temperatures average around 4°C (7°F) higher.

São Paulo is the richest state in Brazil. It has the second highest per-capita income (lower than only the Federal District) and, with the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the highest standard of living in Brazil, despite the poverty in some peripheral parts of the largest cities.

[edit] Economy

Paulista Avenue in the capital of São Paulo

São Paulo state is responsible for approximately one-third of Brazilian GDP. Its economy is based on machinery, the automobile and aviation industries, services, financial companies, commerce, textiles, orange growing, sugar cane and coffee production.

Wealth is unequally distributed in the state, however. The richest municipalities are centered around Greater São Paulo (such as Campinas, Jundiai, Paulínia, Americana, Indaiatuba, São José dos Campos, Santos, etc.), as well as a few other more distant nucle, such as around Ribeirão Preto. Some regions, such as Registro and the Bananal region, in the border with Rio de Janeiro, are very poor, some of them as poor as municipalities in the Northeast of Brazil.

[edit] Transportation

Subway station in São Paulo

São Paulo is the state with the largest system of transportation in Latin America, comprising roads, railways, fluvial lanes, airports, river and sea ports. The city of São Paulo also boasts of a metro and a suburban railway system.

See: Highway system of São Paulo

[edit] Demographics

São Paulo has the most diverse population of Brazil. Strong immigration in the late 19th century and early 20th century brought people from all over the world to the state.

The main ethnic group in São Paulo are the Italians. There are about 15 million people of Italian descent living in the state, and it is one of the largests concentration of Italians outside Italy.

São Paulo always had a large Portuguese population, since the 16th century, though most Portuguese arrived in the state in the early 20th century.

The Spanish population is also large, with some 7 million people of Spanish descent in the state.

The Arab population, mainly Christians of Lebanese or Syrian descent are 5 million, and people of German descent are about 3 million.

The population of Afro-Brazilian descent in São Paulo grew in the last decades, due to strong migration of people from northeastern Brazil, which used to concentrated most of them.

The people of Asian descent make up 10% of the population, most of them of Japanese descent (see Japanese-Brazilian). São Paulo has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan. Other Asian groups include Chinese and Koreans.

[edit] Government and politics

The governor is Cláudio Lembo (PFL), who took over from Geraldo Alckmin on March 31, 2006, after the latter was chosen to run for president. Lembo's term ends on December 31, 2006.

Like other parts of Brazil, São Paulo politics is controlled by the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), in the government of the state since 1994 and elected in 2006 for more four years, and the Workers' Party (PT). Both parties have their origins in this state.

Local politicians of note (with party affiliations) include: José Serra (PSDB), Geraldo Alckmin (PSDB), José Genoino (PT), José Anibal (PSDB), Antonio Palocci (PT), Eduardo Suplicy (PT), Aloísio Mercadante (PT), Marta Suplicy (PT), Romeu Tuma (Party of the Liberal Front), and Paulo Maluf (Progressive Party). Maluf is a controversial figure in São Paulo city politics, and is frequently accused of corruption. However, many voters used to support him because of his several accomplishments during his governments, which the most notorious was the São Paulo Subway System (the first in Brazil) and the Costa e Silva expressway, also know as Minhocão. Maluf has, however, failed to be elected in the last elections for governor of the state of São Paulo and for Mayor of the state capital.

The latter two Brazilian presidents, Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), were politics from São Paulo, although Cardoso was actually born in state of Rio de Janeiro, and Lula in Pernambuco. Cardoso lives in São Paulo city. Lula, the current president, has a residence in the nearby city of São Bernardo do Campo.