Portal:Paraíba/Intro
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Paraíba (pronounced [paɾaˈiba][1]) is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It contains the easternmost land of the Americas. Paraíba has a clear, calm water coast, many natural reefs and natural pools. Perhaps the beaches of João Pessoa, the capital, are the best known. There it is the Praia do Seixas, the extreme point east of South America. João Pessoa has a singular characteristic: it is the Brazilian city where the sun raises first. In the interior of the State, another great city is Campina Grande. It is one of the Brazilian capitals of forró, and during the month of June receives more than one million tourists for the festivities.
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 56.5%, followed by the industrial sector at 33.1%. Agriculture represents 10.4%, of GDP (2004). Paraíba exports: woven of cotton 36.3%, footweares 20.1%, sugar and alcohol 10.8%, fish and crustacean 9.7%, sisal 7%, cotton 6.6% (2002).
Share of the Brazilian economy: 0.8% (2004).[2]
The Paraíba economy is largely based upon the making of shoes and other leather products, the raising of cattle for beef, and sugarcane, corn. Though historically sugarcane has dominated the Paraíba agricultural sector, pineapple, corn, and beans cultivation are also widespread. The other important economical sector in the state is tourism, especially the state urban and unspoilt beaches, ecoturism and festivals such as "carnaval" and "São João."
