Rio Comprido (neighborhood)

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Rio Comprido is a neighborhood located in the northern zone of Rio de Janeiro city, in Brazil. It borders Catumbi, Estácio, Praça da Bandeira and Tijuca neighborhoods.

[edit] Etymology

The name Rio Comprido is derived from the central river which pass through it. The river, which is currently canalized and completely degraded, disembogues in Guanabara Bay. The name Rio Comprido means Long River.

[edit] History

In the 17th century the Rio Comprido valley produced sugarcane, flowed off by a warehouse in embarkations which conducted it to the bay. In the 19th century, the sugar farming was replaced by the coffe farming. The neighborhood were settled by Englishmen, sbeing known until the beginning of the 20th century as Chácara dos Ingleses (Englishmen Small Ranch).

When the Paulo de Frontin viaduct was opened, it gave access to Rebouças tunnel and to the city's southern zone, turning Rio Comprido a passageway neighborhood, currently surrounded by lower income communities, such as Turano, Fogueteiro, Querosene, Fallet, Coroa, São Carlos and Mineira, which suffers of violence and social exclusion.

[edit] References

• Much of the content of this article comes from the equivalent Portuguese-language Wikipedia article (retrieved August 20, 2005).