Santa Cruz do Sul

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Município de Santa Cruz do Sul
Skyline of Município de Santa Cruz do Sul
Official seal of Município de Santa Cruz do Sul
Seal
Location in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Location in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Coordinates: 29°43′04″S 52°25′33″W / -29.71778, -52.42583
Country Brazil
Region South
State Rio Grande do Sul
Founded 1877-03-31
Government
 - Mayor José Alberto Wenzel (PSDB)
Area [1]
 - Total 733.5 km² (283.2 sq mi)
Elevation 122 m (400 ft)
Population (2006 est.)[1]
 - Total 119,803
 - Density 163.3/km² (422.9/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 - Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Website: Prefeitura de Santa Cruz do Sul

Santa Cruz do Sul is a city in central Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The city has approximately 117,000 inhabitants and sits about 150 km (about 93 miles) from the capital city of the state, Porto Alegre. The city enjoys a high standard of living and Gross Income per Capita is 2.5 times greater than that of the average person's salary in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

The center Cathedral of São João Batista is one of the main tourist draws in the city. The adjacent block in front of the Cathedral, Getúlio Vargas Square, is adorned with fountains and trees. São João Batista Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in all of Brazil. The main edifice was built between 1928 and 1932 and the two 82 meter (269 ft) tall towers were added later.

Industry The area around Santa Cruz do Sul is mainly agricultural, and produces large quantities of tobacco and soy beans for animal fodder. Most of the tobacco produced in the area is exported as a raw material for cigarette manufacturing plants all over the world. Soy bean processing plants sell several million tons of animal fodder annually, for domestic use and for export.

Santa Cruz do Sul Oktoberfest 2003 logo
Santa Cruz do Sul Oktoberfest 2003 logo

Contents

[edit] Oktoberfest

Each year, the citizens of Santa Cruz do Sul and visitors from the region celebrate Oktoberfest. The city has a large population of German-Brazilians. Thousands turn out each year for the Oktoberfest celebration.

[edit] João-de-Barro Bom-Plac House Project

The Prefeitura Municipal de Santa Cruz do Sul won a 2004 Energy Globe Award for the João-de-Barro Bom-Plac House Project.[2]

[edit] External links

São João Batista Cathedral in front of Getúlio Vargas Square in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
São João Batista Cathedral in front of Getúlio Vargas Square in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

[edit] More photos of Santa Cruz do Sul

[edit] References

Coordinates: 29°43′59″S, 52°24′52″W