Rio Grande do Norte

State of Rio Grande do Norte
—  State  —
Flag Coat of arms
Location of State of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil
Country	Brazil
Capital and Largest City	Natal
Government
- Governor	Iberê Ferreira, Brazilian Socialist Party
- Vice Governor
Area
- Total	52,796.791 km2 (20,385 sq mi)
Area rank	22nd
Population (2005 census)
- Total	3,006,273
- Estimate (2006)	3,043,760
- Rank	17th
- Density	56.9/km2 (147.5/sq mi)
- Density rank	10th
Demonym	Potiguar or Norte-rio-grandense
GDP
- Year	2006 estimate
- Total	R$ 20,557,000,000 (18th)
- Per capita	R$ 6,754 (20th)
HDI
- Year	2005
- Category	0.738 – medium (20th)
Time zone	BRT (UTC-3)
- Summer (DST)	BRST (UTC-2)
Postal Code	59000-000 to 59990-000
ISO 3166 code	BR-RN
Website	rn.gov.br

Rio Grande do Norte (lit. "Great River of the North", in reference to the mouth of the Potengi River, Portuguese pronunciation: [ʁi.u ˈɡɾɐ̃di du ˈnɔʁti]^[1]) is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the edge of the South American continent. Because of its geographic position, Rio Grande do Norte has a strategic importance. The capital and largest city is Natal. It is the land of the folklorist Luís da Câmara Cascudo and, according to NASA^[2], it has the purest air in the Americas. Its 410 km (254 mi) of sand, much sun, coconut palms and lagoons are responsible for the fame of beaches. Is also part of its territory the islands of Rocas Atoll.

The main activity of the state economy is tourism, followed by the extraction of petroleum (the second largest producer in the country), agriculture, fruit growing and extraction of minerals and is the largest producer of salt in the country and among other economic activities^[3].

The state is famous for having many popular attractions such as the Maior cajueiro do mundo (world's largest cashew tree)^[4], the dunes and the dromedaries of Genipabu^[5], the famous beaches of Ponta Negra, Maracajaú and Pipa's paradise^[6], the Carnatal the largest off-season carnival in Brazil^[7], the Forte dos Reis Magos is a medieval fortress^[8], the hills and mountains of Martins^[9], the Dunas Park the second largest urban park in the country^[10], and several other attractions. The state is also closest to the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha^[11].

Geography

Tropical climate in Ponta Negra beach.

Rio Grande do Norte is dominated by its coastline. The state is famed for its beaches and sand dunes, and the air is, according to NASA, the second-cleanest in the world after Antarctica.

Aerial view of rainforest in the semi-arid.

Two climates predominate: humid tropical, in the oriental littoral, and semi-arid, in the remaining (most part) of the State (including the North coast). The rainforest which once covered most of Brazil's coast had its northern end in the south of Rio Grande do Norte; the area north of Natal, the capital, is under dunes, a kind of formation associated with semi-arid climate. The semi-arid climate is characterized not only by the low level but also the irregularity of rainfall; some years can go by with no or very little rain; most of the interior of the State is part of the Polygon of Droughts (an area which receives special attention from the federal government). There are also many mangroves in the state, and the interior is dominated by rainforest. Rocas Atoll in the Atlantic Ocean, 260 km Northeast of Natal, also belongs to the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

History

Natal Historic Center.

The first European to reach the region may have been the Spaniard Alonso de Ojeda in 1499. The northeastern tip of South America, Cape São Roque, 20 miles to the north of Natal, was first officially visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501–1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day. The Vespucci expedition also named the Potengi (Tupi-Guarani for "River of Shrimps") river, whose considerably large mouth contrasted with the nearby bodies of water, "Rio Grande" (Portuguese for "Great River"), after which the Captaincy, Province, and State were named. For decades thereafter, no permanent European settlement was established in the area, inhabited by the Potiguar tribe.

Natal's City Hall (Filipe Camarão Palace).

In the 16th century (between 1535 and 1598), it was explored by French pirates in search for brazilwood. In 1598, the Portuguese built the Forte dos Reis Magos and, in the following year, founded the city of Natal. Rasing cattle and sugarcane plantation lifted the local development and economy. ^[12]

In 1633, the area became a battleground between the expansionist Portuguese, seeking to take more land for their Brazilian territories, and the Dutch, who gained a foothold in South America.

After a short period of peace and prosperity in Olinda and Recife, the sugar prices went down in the market of Amsterdam and the region entered into a serious economic crisis. The economic problems led the Portuguese settlers and native Brazilians to revolt against the Dutch in what is known today as the massacres of Cunhaú and Uruaçu.

Rampa, one of the American air bases used during World War II.

The religious confrontations (the Portuguese-Brazilian Catholicism and the Dutch Calvinism), Portugal's restoration of the throne in 1640 and the reconquest of Maranhão in 1643, lead the Portuguese-Brazilians to undertake the 1645 uprising, led by André Vidal de Negreiros and João Fernandes Vieira. The governor of Bahia promised new Portuguese troops, but most of the rebels were Africans and Amerindians. In 1654, the Dutch were finally cast out.

During World War II, Rio Grande do Norte was used as an Allied airbase from which to launch air raids on German-occupied North Africa.

In 1964, Latin America's first space launch site was constructed in Rio Grande do Norte; Barreira do Inferno (Hell's Barrier), which was often referred to as the "Brazilian NASA".

Demographics

Natal, the capital of the state.

According to the IBGE of 2008, there were 3,153,000 people residing in the state. The population density was 51.98 inhabitants per square kilometre (134.6 /sq mi).

Urbanization: 72.4% (2006); Population growth: 1.6% (1991–2000); Houses: 832,000 (2006).^[13]

The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 1,877,000 Brown (Multiracial) people (59.51%), 1,168,000 White people (37.04%), 97,000 Black people (3.08%), 8,000 Asian people (0.24%), 1,000 Amerindian people (0.03%).^[14]

Interesting facts

Vehicles: 468,289 (March/2007); Mobile phones: 1.6 million (April/2007); Telephones: 399 thousand (April/2007); Cities: 167 (2007).^[15]

Economy

Port of Natal.

The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 50.2%, followed by the industrial sector at 44.2%. Agriculture represents 5.6% of GDP (2004). Rio Grande do Norte exports: fish and crustacean 30.5%, fruits 19.3%, woven of cotton 12.3%, petroleum 10.8%, cashew 8.5%, sugar 5.3%, chocolate 3.9%, sea salt 3.7% (2002).

Share of the Brazilian economy: 0.9% (2004).^[16]

Historically, Rio Grande do Norte has relied upon sugar and cattle for its livelihood. However, since the 1980s, the state government has realised that tourism is a lucrative industry, and more money is being poured into the construction of tourist resorts, and restoring colonial buildings in major cities.

Fruit is also grown in Rio Grande do Norte, with the state supplying 70% of Brazil's melons, and the state is famed for its mango and cashew fields. The world's largest cashew tree is located in the state; it has a circumference of 500 centimetres and occupies an area of 7,300 cm², making it 70 times the size of average cashew trees. Rio Grande do Norte is also one of three Brazilian states that together produce the world's entire supply of carnauba wax.

Education

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte in Natal, considered one of the best in the country.

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum.

Educational institutions

• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte);
• Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Norte (UERN) (State University of Rio Grande do Norte);
• Universidade Potiguar (UnP) (Potiguar University);
• Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (Ufersa) (Rural Federal University of Semi-Arid);
• Instituto Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) (Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte);
• and many others.

Culture

Saint John's Day

Fireworks in Saint John Festival.

Festa Junina was introduced to Northeastern Brazil by the Portuguese for whom St John's day (also celebrated as Midsummer Day in several European countries), on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. Differently, of course, from what happens on the European Midsummer Day, the festivities in Brazil do not take place during the summer solstice but during the tropical winter solstice. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of St Anthony's day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter's day. During these fifteen days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing in the streets. Once exclusively a rural festival, today in Brazil it is largely an urban festival during which people joyfully and theatrically mimic peasant stereotypes and clichés in a spirit of jokes and good times. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, like during Carnival, these festivities involve costume-wearing (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Like what happens on Midsummer and St John's Day in Europe, bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil.

Infrastructure

According to research by Fundação Dom Cabral, Rio Grande do Norte is the second state with the best infrastructure in the Northeast Region and ninth in the country.^[17]

Augusto Severo International Airport.

International Airport

Located virtually at sea level (169 ft), with favorable weather and geographic conditions, Augusto Severo International Airport in Parnamirim is 18 kilometers from Natal (RN). It takes its name from Augusto Severo de Albuquerque Maranhão, a native son of that state who died in an accident in France in 1902. The airport has a total area of 11.3 thousand square meters and capacity for 1.2 million passengers a year. The installations and passenger terminals are air conditioned with equipment that can put out 630 tons of cooled air. With an area of 5.5 million square meters, the airport complex operates with 16,482 square meters of passenger and cargo terminals and administrative and maintenance installations. There are 6,224 meters of runways and 61.5 square meters of apron space, providing connections from the greater Natal region to the main centers of the world. The airport is the only one in the Northeast Region to receive charter flights from Scandinavia.

Highways

BR-304 highway.

• BR-101;
• BR-104;
• BR-110;
• BR-226;
• BR-304;
• BR-405;
• BR-406;
• BR-427;
• RN-117;
• RN-401.

Port

Entrance of the Port of Natal

The Port of Natal is specialized in cold storage cargo such as fruit, fish and shrimp, among others. It has its own customs facilities and is connected to Europe by direct navigation lines, mainly to the ports of Vigo, Rotterdam and Sheerness, which allows great agility and reduced costs for the shipment of your products. Besides having a modern infrastructure, competitive prices and qualified professionals, the access to the management of the Port is easy, meaning less bureaucracy for your transactions.

Sports

Natal, the capital of state, is one of 12 cities to host games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in Brazil.

Flag

The flag of Rio Grande do Norte was adopted on December 3, 1957. It is based on a design by Luis de Camara Cascudo. In the middle of the flag is the coat of arms of the state, which was adopted on July 1, 1909. It shows a sailing boat at the coast in the middle, representing the fishing and salt industries. Above it is a bar which shows two flowers on the sides and two cotton bolls in the center. To the sides of the shield are a coconut palm to the right and a carnauba palm to the left, connected by two branches of sugar cane. The star above represents the state as part of Brazil.

Photo gallery

Ponta Negra beach	Pipa beach	Maior cajueiro do mundo	Genipabu
Forte dos Reis Magos	Carnatal	Newton Navarro bridge	Maracajaú
Morro do Careca	Natal Historic Center	Natal City Park	Natal Aquarium
Rosado multicolored dunes	Ponta do Mel	Mossoró Cidade Junina	Diogo Lopes beach
Lajedo de Soledade	Madeiro Beach	Pico do Cabugi	Emanoelas beach
Gargalheiras	Di Bivar Castle	Igreja de Patu	Martins hills and mountains

References

External links

Official

• (Portuguese) Official website
• (Portuguese) Nominuto.com Newspaper

Tourism

• (English) Travel guide
• (English) Information, maps and accommodation

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