São Leopoldo

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City of São Leopoldo
Flag Seal
Location in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Coordinates: 29°45′36″S, 51°08′49″W
Country	Brazil
Region	South
State	Rio Grande do Sul
Founded	1824
Incorporated	1846 (town)
	1864 (city)
Government
- Mayor	Ary José Vanazzi (PT)
Area
- City	102.31 km²  (39.5 sq mi)
Elevation	26 m (85.3 ft)
Population (2006 est.)
- City	212,498
- Density	2,077/km² (5,379.4/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
- Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Website: Prefeitura de São Leopoldo

São Leopoldo is an important Brazilian industrial city located in the south state of Rio Grande do Sul. It occupies a total area of 103.9 km² (around 80 km² urban area) at circa 30 km from the State Capital, Porto Alegre. Climate is sub-tropical, with temperatures varying from 2ºC minimum at Winter to more than 40ºC maximum during summer time. Summers are fairly dry.

Established in July 25, 1824, by German immigrants, São Leopoldo is considered the cradle of German culture in Brazil, that is to say, the first official city designed by the national Brazilian governor to start the German plan of immigration in the country. It has today a population of aprox.210,000 (2006).

São Leopoldo is one of the 13 beautiful cities along the Rota Romântica ('Romantic Route'), a touristic scenic route that runs from the State Capital towards the Serra Gaucha

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Cities of the Rota Romântica
São Leopoldo • Novo Hamburgo • Estância Velha • Ivoti • Dois Irmãos • Morro Reuter • Santa Maria do Herval • Presidente Lucena • Picada Café • Nova Petrópolis • Gramado • Canela • São Francisco de Paula