Brotas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brotas
State:	São Paulo
Area:	1,101.5 km²
Population:	21,187 (Estimate: 2004)
Altitude:	647 m
Postal Code (CEP):	17380-000
Geographic Coordinates:	22° 17' lat. south 48º 07' long. west

Coordinates: 22°17′05″S, 48°07′38″W Brotas is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of São Paulo. Its estimated population in 2004 was 21,187.

The town its known locally for its coffee, on which its economy relies.

[edit] History

The city's history started in 1839 when a chapel was built which originated a settlement around it. Brotas became a district of Araraquara in 1841, then it became a district of Rio Claro in 1853. On August 22, 1859 the district was promoted to a municipality.

The municipality experienced its greater development era during the coffee farming expansion which occurred between the 1920s and the 1930s. During this era the city received a large number of Italian immigrants. Due to the coffee agriculture decline, a large number of Brotas' citizens migrated to larger cities.

[edit] Economy

Despite its coffee-oriented historical economic devolpment, Brotas is known internationally for its specialization in adventure tourism, hosting the practice of several adventurous sports such as rafting and canoeing, taking advantage of the Jacaré Pepira River.

Nowadays the municipality's economy based in farming and cattle raising, especially in the culture of sugar cane and orange, despite the growing relevance of adventure tourism.

The Brotas region, including the Patrimônio de São Sebastião neighborhood and the city of Torrinha, feature an elevated number of landforms of great interest for tourists.