(Redirected from Natal, Brazil)
'Natal' (
IPA: ) is the capital city of
Rio Grande do Norte, a north eastern state in
Brazil. As of the
2000 census, the city had a total population of 712,317.
Geography
Natal is located at , in the far east of
South America. The city has a total area of 170 km². Natal lies on the
Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Potengi river.
Climate
Natal has a typical
tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity all throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by a near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. January is the warmest month, with mean maxima of 32°C and minima of 22°C and more
sun; July experiences the coolest temperatures, with mean maxima of 27°C and minima of 17°C and more
rain.
Vegetation
Ponta Negra Beach, in Natal.
Natal has a
Tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 mm (about 78 inches or 2 meters) and 1700 mm (about 67 inches). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. There are several common characteristics of tropical
rainforest trees. Tropical rainforest species frequently possess one or more attributes not commonly seen in trees of higher latitudes or trees in drier conditions on the same latitude.
History
The Prefeitura (city hall). This building inspired the colour scheme used for the entrance to the Santuário Ecológico, in nearby Pipa.
'Old Bridge', North Zone, in Natal.
Forte dos Reis Magos, in Natal.
The northeastern tip of South America,
cape São Roque, 20 miles to the north of Natal, was first 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. For decades thereafter, no permanent European settlement was established in the area, inhabited by the
Potiguar tribe.
In
1597, after some years during which French pirates, led by
Jacques Riffault, established regular commercial activities with the native population, the ninth Portuguese Governor-General of Brazil,
Francisco de Sousa, ordered the expulsion of the buccaneers. The successful expedition was led by the Captain-Major of the Captaincy of
Pernambuco,
Manuel de Mascarenhas Homem, with the assistance of
Jerônimo de Albuquerque Maranhão.
Albuquerque Maranhão began on
January 6,
1598 the construction of the Fort of the Holy Kings or of the Magi-Kings ("Forte dos Santos Reis" or "Forte dos Reis Magos"), named after the
Three Wise Men, honored in the Christian feast of the
Epiphany, celebrated on that day.
On
December 25,
1599, Natal (whose name means Nativity or
Christmas in Portuguese) was established as a village outside the fort. The fort, city, and surrounding areas were occupied by Dutch forces from 1633 to 1654.
The sandy soil of Natal prevented the city from becoming a producer of sugarcane, during the colonial times. For centuries, the economy of the State was based on the raising of cattle in the dry interior lands; the cattle was sent alive to the larger centers, to be used as traction, or was turned into jerked beef, to be used as food; the most typical food of Natal, "
carne de sol" (sun meat), has origins in that jerked beef.
Last century, Natal benefited from the growth of the industries of salt (the north of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer in Brazil) and petroleum (the largest inland Brazilian reserves are in the State). Natal grew quickly, but in a somewhat planned way (compared to other major Brazilian cities); transit flows smoothly, public services are well distributed, ecologic conscience is visible; violence levels are low. Tourists (first Brazilians, more recently foreigners) discovered the city, which became one of the major tourist destinations in Brazil.
Because of its strategic position (Natal is one of the cities in Brazil nearest to Western Europe and Africa, especially
Dakar,
Senegal), an American air base was built in a suburb of Natal named
Parnamirim during World War II as part of the so-called
Operation Rainbow; this base provided support for allied troops combating in the north of Africa. Thousands of American soldiers were sent to Natal, and their presence left traces in the culture of the city.
Economy
Via Costeira, Natal.
With its dozens of sandy, white beaches, such as
Ponta Negra and its famous Morro do Careca, Tabatinga - the cliff of dolphins,
Pirangi, Redinha, and Jenipabu with its famous fixed sand dunes and imported
camels,
tourism is the most important industry of Natal, attracting Brazilians, Europeans (many from
Germany,
Portugal and
Italy), and Americans alike. It is also a relevant administrative center for the oil industry (
Rio Grande do Norte being the second largest oil-producing state in Brazil). The fishing industry is strong (
shark cartilage being a major export to
Japan) as is the cultivation of tropical fruit, especially
mangos, guavas, and
cashews (the fruit and the nuts). In fact, the largest cashew tree in the world is located near the coast in the neighborhood of Pirangi, south of the city center. This tree has a circumference of 500 metres and occupies an area of 7,300m², making it 70 times the size of average cashew trees.
Curiosity
Vehicles: 186.616 (jun./2006);
Daily
newspapers: 3 (jul./2006);
Foundation day: 25/12/1599.
Education
Portuguese language is the official language of schools. But
English language and
Spanish language are part of the official
high school curriculum.
Colleges and universities
Natal has a Federal University (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN), a state University (Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte - UERN), and a private University ( Universidade Potiguar - UnP). The Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Rio Grande do Norte - CEFET-RN (Federal Center for Technological Education of Rio Grande do Norte) is an institution linked to the Ministry of Education and its aim is to instruct and to qualify professionals in the several levels and modalities of education, for the different sectors of economy. In Natal, there are also several private colleges such as FATERN-Gama FIlho, FAL, FANEC, Faculdade Câmara Cascudo, FACEN, FACEX, FARN, and Faculdade Católica Nossa Senhora das Neves.
Culture
===
Festa Junina (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 festivity, today, in Brazil, it is largely a city festival during which people joyfully and theatrically mimic peasant stereotypes and clichés, all in good fun and high spirits. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, as during Carnival, these festivities involve wearing costumes (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Similar to what happens on
Midsummer and St John's Day in Europe,
bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil.
Carnival
The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is
carnival time in
Brazil. Rich and poor alike forget their cares as they party in the streets.
Infrastructure
International Airport
Located virtually at sea level (169 feet), 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.
Port
Port of Natal.
Neighborhoods
A Rampa, view of Pontegi
river.
Catedral Nova, in Natal.
''North Zone''
★ Potengi
★ Redinha
★ Pajuçara
★ Igapó
★ Panatis
★ Santa Catarina
★ Parque dos Coqueiros
★ Alvorada
★ Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
★ Vale Dourado
★ Nova Natal
★ Salinas
★ Lagoa Azul
''East Zone''
★ Cidade Alta
★ Petrópolis
★ Tirol
★ Alecrim
★ Ribeira
★ Rocas
★ Barro Vermelho
★ Santos Reis
★ Praia do Meio
★ Areia Preta
★ Mãe Luíza
''West Zone''
★ Quintas
★ Nordeste
★ Dix-Sept Rosado
★ Bom Pastor
★ Nossa Senhora de Nazaré
★ Cidade da Esperança
★ Cidade Nova
★ Planalto
★ Km 6
★ Felipe Camarão
★ Guarapes
''South Zone''
★ Ponta Negra
★ Lagoa Nova
★ Capim Macio
★ Candelária
★ Neópolis
★ Nova Descoberta
★ Jiqui
★ Pirangi
★ Pitimbú
Rocket launch site Centro de Lançamento de Foguetes Barreira do Inferno
At 5°55'30" S and 35°9'47" W ( according Wikimapia), there is since 1965 a launch site for sounding rockets, called Centro de Lançamento de Foguetes Barreira do Inferno, from which regularly rockets of the types Nike-Cajun, Sonda, Black Brant, Super Loki, etc. are launched.
In opposite to
Alcântara it is just a site for launching suborbital rockets.
Visiting the site is possible upon previous arrangement.
Sister cities
★
Córdoba,
Argentina
★
Porto Alegre,
Brazil
External links
★
Natal Official Website (in Portuguese)
★
Rocket launch site Natal
★
Natal Guide
★
Natal Photos & Travel
★
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