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The city (map 1, 2) has around 1,4 millions inhabitants, and a gross product of more than US$ 9 billions. Porto Alegre is the capital of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). This state is located in Southern Brazil, having borders with Argentina and Uruguay (see map). The state’s population is of around 10,2 millions and the gross product of US$ 53 billions.
Rio Grande do Sul has 4 macro regions: the region known
as Half South has as main activities cattle and sheep breeding, and agriculture,
specially rice fields; the region known as Colonial Northwest produces mainly
milk, fruits, corn and soy bean, as well food industries and services; the
Colonial Region is directed to industrial production (like Marcopolo
and Tramontina) and services; and
the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, directed to the production of shoes (around
Novo Hamburgo) and to petrochemical
industries, as well as services.
Someone who was born or lives in Rio Grande do Sul is
known as “gaucho”. The origins of gauchos is a mix of people from many parts
of the world: native indians and immigrants from countries like Portugal,
Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Ucrania, as well as jewish people from all over
around. From this mix it was originated a rich and peculiar culture. Among the
more characteristic manifestation of “gaucha culture” we have the habit of
drinking “chimarrão” (a hot drink made of a native and bitter herb); to eat
“churrasco”, a kind of barbecue.
The city of Porto Alegre is located in the east part of
the state, at the margins of Guaiba River and Lagoa dos Patos - the bigger lake
(of non salty water) in the world
(city
map,
down
town map). Its Metropolitan Region has 23 cities, and
around 3,5 millions of inhabitants.
Porto Alegre has many labels, witch make it special in
Brazil:
- the capital with the best Human Development Index;
- cultural capital of Mercosur;
- according to Trevisan Consultants, is the best place to financial investments;
- the city with more trees, proportional to its size, having 700 gardens, two biological areas of protection, and 7 parks;
- the bigger rural area among Brazilian capitals.
The city history begins in the XVIII century, when it
was built at the Guaiba River margins a small
dock, in order to make possible
the communication with Viamão, far away 15 km and the main village of the
region at that time. From this function came the name of Viamão Port. When 60
couples from the portuguese Açores Island settled in the area the name was
changed to Couples Port. In 1773 the village was chosen to locate the province
government, that until that moment was in Viamão. In 1809 the village becomes
the city of Porto Alegre, that means Happy
Port.
Around the year of 1820, the French biologist August
Saint-Hilaire passed by the city, recording some characteristics existing at
that time, including many that are a mark of the city until these days.
The Matriz
Garden, from where he saw the magnificent views at
west,
north and south, until today is a reference in the city and in the
state. Around this
Garden are locates the
Catholic
Cathedral, the
State Parliament, the Governors
Palace, the Justice Court.
People in the state has a tradition of political
opposition. The Workers Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores) is governing Porto
Alegre since 1993 and the state since 1999.
Porto Alegre always had an active participation in the
national scenario. It is the Brazilian capital with the highest level of
education - 20% of family leaders have an university degree. There are two
important universities in Porto Alegre - Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
(UFRGS) and the Catholic University (PUCRS). UFRGS is among the three main
universities of the country, mainly regarding it courses at post-graduation
level. In the Metropolitan Region there are two important universities - ULBRA
and UNISINOS, and many university centers.
The city has two soccer teams -
Grêmio and
Internacional, members of the 13 League - that congregates the 13 most important
Brazilian teams. Grêmio won the World Championship in 1983.
The city is remembered by its cultural events, by very
well preserved historical buildings (as
the "Dores"
church), and by is varied
gastronomy.
Porto Alegre sunset is famous, being described as one of the nicest in the world (praia de ipanema).
Among
the main business located in
Porto
Alegre we have VARIG, Gerdau, Ipiranga,
Zaffari
and
RBS.
Since last year, General Motors (GM)
is operating in Gravataí - located in the Metropolitan
Region. Also in this
Region,
but in Triunfo, there is a Petrochemical Pole,
in Alvorada Dell
Computers
is establishing a plant. In the health sector, there two hospitals considered among
the best in Latin America (Santa
Casa
and HPCA).
Commerce is a very
important economic activity, vith
many malls (like Rua
da Praia
and Shopping Iguatemi).
To know more about this “smiling city”, you can
have more information in sites
(Lecturers and researchers Luis Roque Klering and Maria Ceci Misozcky, UFRGS)
