PALMAS, TOCANTINS

'Palmas' is the capital of the Brazilian state of Tocantins. According to IBGE estimates from July 2005, the city had 208,165 inhabitants. It has an area of 2474,95 km².
Palmas was founded in 1990, with the purpose of being the capital of the newest Brazilian state Tocantins, which was established after the promulgation of the new 1988 Brazilian Constitution. The city has a well-designed road system, and its urban zoning is modelled on that of Brasília. It has - for instance- a beautiful symmetrical park in the city centre.
In 2002, the Lajeado Hydroelectric Power Plant reservoir was completed, at which point the city gained many river beaches, and also the huge Ponte da Amizade Presidente Fernando Henrique Cardoso, which crosses over 8 kilometers over the reservoir, connecting Palmas with the major highway BR-153.
The Praça dos Girassóis is a urban square in the city's birthplace, where government facilities are based. A new airport was inaugurated in 2002, 20 kilometers from the downtown.
In sports, the most notable football (soccer) club in the city is Palmas FR, which plays at Nilton Santos Stadium.
It has the second lowest population density of the state capitals in Brazil, preceded only by Boa Vista, Roraima (which does however have more inhabitants: 242,179).