Varginha

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Coordinates: 21°33′S 45°26′W / 21.550°S 45.433°W / -21.550; -45.433

Varginha

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City location in Minas Gerais
Varginha
City location in Minas Gerais
Coordinates: 21°33′06″S 45°25′48″W / 21.55167°S 45.43000°W / -21.55167; -45.43000
Country Brazil
Region Southeast
State Minas Gerais
Government
 • Mayor Eduardo "Corujinha" (PT)
Area
 • Total 395.647 km2 (152.760 sq mi)
Elevation 900 m (3,000 ft)
Population (2006)
 • Total 124,502
 • Density 314.7/km2 (815/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Website Varginha

Varginha is a city and municipality in southwest Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The estimated population is approximately 123,000 inhabitants and the area of the municipality is 396.39 km². The elevation is 950 mts.

Varginha stands out as one of the major centers of commerce and coffee production in Brazil and the world. The city is a center for export of coffee draining most of the production of the South mines, making the grain trade with several countries.

The city is located within the shores of Lake Furnas and is equidistant from the three main capitals of Brazil, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. The city is close to Rodovia Fernão Dias, which has recently been widened to four lanes. The city is served by Maj. Brig. Trompowsky Airport (IATA: VAG, ICAO: SBVG).

Varginha achieved a certain fame in UFO circles due to the so-called Varginha UFO incident in 1996, in which two extraterrestrial beings were allegedly spotted by locals and later captured by Brazilian Army, along with the local police and fire department.

After this episode, the city began to invest in "UFO tourism". Today there are bus stops with the shape of spaceships and a water tower downtown also in the shape of a spaceship. In August 2004, UFO researchers from all over Brazil came together at the I UFO Congress of Varginha, organized with the support of the City Hall.

Sights

  • Illuminated spaceship

  • Furnas Lake

  • Yellow blossoms at Furnas Lake

  • Coffee plantation

  • Marina and Resort

  • Football game

See also

External links

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