'Pernambuco' (
pron. [1]) is a
state of
Brazil, located in the
Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of
ParaÃba and
Ceará, to the west is
PiauÃ, to the south are
Alagoas and
Bahia, and to the east is the
Atlantic Ocean.
Geography
Pernambuco comprises a comparatively narrow coastal zone, a high inland plateau, and an intermediate zone formed by the terraces and slopes between the two.
Its surface is much broken by the remains of the ancient plateau which has been worn down by erosion, leaving escarpments and ranges of flat-topped mountains, called
chapadas, capped in places by horizontal layers of sandstone. Ranges of these chapadas form the boundary lines with three states–the
Serra dos Irmaos and
Serra Vermelha with
PiauÃ, the
Serra do Araripe with
Ceará, and the
Serra dos Cariris Velhos with
ParaÃba.
The coastal area is fertile, and was formerly covered by the humid
Pernambuco coastal forests, the northern extension of the
Atlantic Forests (Mata Atlântica) of eastern Brazil. It is now place to extensive
sugar cane plantations. It has a hot, humid climate, relieved to some extent by the south-east trade winds.
The middle zone, called the agreste region, has a drier climate and lighter vegetation, including the semi-deciduous
Pernambuco interior forests, where many trees lose their leaves in the dry season.
The inland region, called the
sertão is high, stony, and dry, and frequently devastated by prolonged droughts (secas). The climate is characterized by hot days and cool nights. There are two clearly defined seasons, a rainy season from March to June, and a dry season for the remaining months. The interior of the state is covered mostly by the dry thorny scrub vegetation called ''
caatinga''. The
Rio São Francisco is the main water source for this area.
The climate is more mild in the countryside of the state because of the
Borborema Plateau ("Planalto da Borborema", popularly known as "Serra das Russas" or "Russians' Mountain"). Some towns are located more than 1000 meters above sea level, and the temperatures there can descend to 10°C and even 5°C in some cities (i.e.,
Triunfo) during the winter.
Santo Antônio Church.
The island of
Fernando de Noronha in the
Atlantic Ocean, 535 km northeast of
Recife, has been part of Pernambuco since 1988.
The rivers of the state include a number of small plateau streams flowing southward to the
São Francisco River, and several large streams in the eastern part flowing eastward to the Atlantic. The former are the
Moxotó,
Ema,
Pajeú,
Terra Nova, Brigida, Boa Vista and Pontai, and are dry channels the greater part of the year.
The largest of the coastal rivers are the
Goiana River, which is formed by the confluence of the Tracunhaem and Capibaribe-mirim, and drains a rich agricultural region in the north-east part of the state; the
Capibaribe, which has its source in the
Serra de Jacarara and flows eastward to the Atlantic at
Recife with a course of nearly 300 miles; the
Ipojuca, which rises in the
Serra de Aldeia Velha and reaches the coast south of Recife; the Serinhaen; and the
Uná. A large tributary of the Uná, the Rio Jacuhipe, forms part of the boundary line with
Alagoas.
History
Originally inhabited by various indigenous peoples, Pernambuco was first settled by the
Portuguese in the 16th century. Shortly after King
João III of Portugal created the
Hereditary Captaincies in 1534, Pernambuco was granted to
Duarte Coelho, who arrived in ''Nova Lusitânia'' (or "New Lusitania", as the area was then known) in 1535.
Nossa Senhora do Carmo Church.
Duarte directed military actions against the French-allied
Caetê Indians and upon their defeat in 1537 established a settlement at the site of a former Marin Indian village, henceforth known as Olinda, as well as another village at
Igarassu.
Due to the cultivation of
sugar and
cotton, Pernambuco was one of the few prosperous captaincies (the other notable one being
São Vincente). With the support of the
Dutch East India Company, sugar mills (''engenho'') were built and a sugar-based economy developed. In 1612, Pernambuco produced 14,000 tons of sugar; in the 1640s, more than 24,000 tons of sugar were exported to
Amsterdam alone. While the sugar industry relied at first on the labor of indigenous peoples, especially the
Tupis and
Tapuyas, high mortality and economic growth led to the importation of African slaves from the late 1600s. Some of these slaves escaped the sugar-producing coastal regions and formed independent inland communities called
mocambos, including
Palmares.
In 1630, Pernambuco, as well as many Portuguese possessions in Brazil, was occupied by the Dutch. The occupation was strongly resisted and the Dutch conquest was only partially successful. In the interim, thousands of the enslaved Africans had fled to Palmares, and soon the mocambos there had grown into two significant states. The Dutch, who allowed sugar production to remain in Portuguese hands, regarded suppression of Palmares important, but they were unsuccessful.
Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen, count of Nassau, was appointed as ruler of the ''
Nieuw Holland'' (Dutch colonization enterprise in Brazil).
Nassau's government built Maritania or Mauristaad (
Recife) on delta islands, which have similarities to Holland's topography. This moved the political focus from Olinda to Recife. Nassau's Dutch administration was noted for advancements in urbanism, culture, and science. The Dutch legacy is still recognizable in Pernambuco's people, accent and architecture.
Portugal reconquered Recife in 1654 and Olinda regained its status of political center. However, Recife remained the commercial /port city. If the Dutch were gone, however, the threat of the now unified quilombo of Palmares remained. In spite of a treaty negotiated in 1678 with its ruler
Ganga Zumba, a war between the two remained.
Zumbi who became ruler following the peace treaty and later repudiated it, fought the Portuguese government until 1694 when soldiers brought from the south eventually defeated him.
In 1710 the
Mascate War took place in Pernambuco. This conflict set the ''mascates'' (traveling salesman) from Recife against the establishment hosted in Olinda and led by the ''
Senhores de Engenho'' (owners of the sugar mills, literally: sugar mill lords).
Pernambuco was the site of the most important rebellions and insurrections in
Brazilian history, especially in the 19th century.
1817 was the year of the
Pernambucan Revolution, a republican
separatist movement which resulted in the creation of the ''Republic of Pernambuco''. The main cause of the revolution was dissatisfaction with the colonial administration. The republic was declared on
March 7,
1817. After military intervention, the secession ended on
May 20,
1817. The current flag of Pernambuco is actually the flag of that Republic.
As a reaction to the
Emperor Dom Pedro I dissolution of the
Constituent Assembly, the
Confederation of the Equator was set up on
July 2,
1824. The Confederation was another separatist movement which encompassed the provinces of Pernambuco,
ParaÃba,
Rio Grande do Norte, and
Ceará. On
November 29,
1824, the Confederated forces capitulated to the Imperial army.
Pernambuco was the site of the brief liberal republican
Praieira revolt in 1848, which was Brazil's response to the
European year of failed liberal revolutions.
Deodoro da Fonseca, the marshal who crushed the revolt, later overthrew Emperor
Pedro II, and served as the first president of the Brazilian republic.
A local inhabitant with
carnival clothes.
Demographics
''Source: PNAD.''
[1]
Economy
The economy itself base in the
agriculture (sugarcane, manioc), livestock farming and creations, as well like in the
industry (alimentary, chemical, metallurgical, electronic, textile).
The state has to second bigger
industrial output of the
Northeast, stayed behind barely of the
Bahia.
In the period of October 2005 to October 2006, the industrial growth of the state was the biggest second of
Brazil - 6,3%, more of the double of on average national in the same period (2,3%). Another segment that deserves highlight is the of mineral extrativism. The pole gesseiro of Araripina is the supplier from 95% of the plaster consumed in
Brazil. The pole of data processing of the Recife - Digital Port - despite of created there is barely 6 years, is between the five biggest of
Brazil. Employ around three thousand persons, and has 3,5% of participation in the PIB of the state.
Alcohol in Pernambuco State (Clean Air)
Pernambuco State has the 5th highest
sugarcane Brazilian production.
Brazil is by far the largest producer of alcohol fuel in the world, typically fermenting ethanol from
sugarcane and
sugar beets. The country produces a total of 18 billion liters annually, of which 3.5 billion are exported, 2 billion of them to the
US.
Alcohol cars debuted in the Brazilian market in 1978 and became quite popular because of heavy subsidy, but in the 80's prices rose and gasoline regained the leading market share.
But from 2004 on, alcohol is rapidly rising its market share once again because of new technologies involving
hybrid fuel car engines called "Flex" by all major car manufacturers (
Volkswagen,
General Motors,
Ford,
Peugeot,
Honda,
Citroën,
Fiat, etc.). "Flex" engines work with gasoline, alcohol or any mixture of both fuels. As of February 2007, approx. 80% of new vehicles sold in Brazil are hybrid fuel. Because of the Brazilian leading production and technology, many countries became very interested in importing alcohol fuel and adopting the "Flex" vehicle concept. On
March 7,
2007, US president
George W. Bush visited the city of
São Paulo to sign agreements with Brazilian president
Lula on importing alcohol and its technology as an alternative fuel.
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
The main educational installations of the state are concentrated in the capital, that count with the seventh best federal university of the country and to twentieth Monday of the
Latin America, to
UFPE. Pernambuco had your main universities and colleges founded in the 19th and 20th century. Some of them are known nationally. The
Faculdade de Direito do Recife, or Recife's Law College, was founded in August, 11, 1827, was the first higher education institute in Brazil.
Castro Alves and
Joaquim Nabuco, two important people to Brazilian history, studied there.
Others important institutions are:
★
Universidade Federal de Pernambuco(UFPE);
★ Universidade Católica de Pernambuco(Unicap);
★
Universidade de Pernambuco(UPE);
★
Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco(UFRPE);
★ Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Pernambuco(Cefet-PE);
★ and many others.
Festivals
Carnival in Pernambuco
A typical carnival 'bloco' of Pernambuco.
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. Pernambuco has large Carnival celebrations, including the Frevo, typical Pernambuco music. Another famous carnaval music style from Pernambuco is Maracatu. The cities of Recife and Olinda hold the most authentic and democratic carnaval celebrations in Brazil. The largest carnaval in all of Brazil is
Galo da Madrugada, which takes place in downtown Recife in the Saturday of carnaval. Another famous event is the "Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos".
Carnaval
Recife’s joyous Carnaval is nationally known and admired, attracting thousands of people every year. The party starts a week before the official date, with electric trios “shaking†the Boa Viagem district.
On Friday, people take to the streets to enjoy themselves to the sound of frevo and to dance with maracatu, ciranda, caboclinhos, afoxé, reggae and manguebeat (cultural movement created in Recife during the 90s) groups. There are still many other entertainment poles spread out around the city, featuring local and national artists.
One of the highlights is Saturday when more than one million people follow the Galo da Madrugada group. From Sunday to Monday, there is the Night of the Silent Drums, on the Pátio do Terço, where Maracatus honor slaves that died in prisons.
Saint John's Day
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 in a spirit of joke and good time. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, like during Carnival, these festivities involve costumes-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.
Winter Festival
In the wild one and interior areas of exceptions appear - mainly cities with microclima of altitude, with temperatures that can arrive to 8°C during the winter, as Triumph, Garanhuns, Araripina and Taquaritinga of the North, that are considered Marshes of Altitude.
Every year in July, when the weather is milder, a number of festivities take place in several cities of Pernambuco like
Garanhuns,
Gravatá, Triunfo and Taquaritinga of the North. Both national and international attractions parade in those cities.
Infrastructure
International airport
Guararapes International Airport. The new Recife/Guararapes –
Gilberto Freyre International Airport has been open since July 2004 and has 52 thousand square meters of area. The second largest
airport in the
North and
Northeast regions, Guararapes had its capacity expanded from 1.5 million to 5 million passengers a year. Now there are 64 check-in counters, versus the former terminal’s 24. The shopping and leisure area was also totally remodeled, within the “Aeroshopping†concept, which transforms an airport into a center for business, comfort and high-quality products and services. The commercial spaces will be occupied in steps and the final total will be 142 shops. Since 2000, Recife has had the longest runway in the Northeast, at 3,305 meters. Its extension permits operations with jumbo jets, such as the Boeing 747-400, which can carry 290 passengers and 62 tons of cargo, with endurance to fly nonstop to anywhere in
South and
Central America, Africa and parts of Europe, the
United States and
Canada.
Port
Suape
port. Suape serves ships 365 days a year without any restrictions in regards to tide schedules. To assist in the docking operation of the ships, the port offers a monitoring system and laser ship docking system that enables effective, secure control and upholds the same technical standards as the most important ports across the globe. The port moves over 5 million tons of cargo a year. The liquid granary (petroleum by-products, chemical products, alcohols, vegetable oils, etc.) constitutes more than 80% of the movement. The port can serve ships of up to 170,000 tpb and operational draft of 14.50m. With 27km² of backport, the internal and external ports offer the necessary conditions for serving large ships. The access canal has 5,000m of extension, 300m in width and 16.5m in length.
Highways
To main form of transport of the state is for the
highways. The most important saints to BR-101, that, advancing for the of Pernambuco coast, league the north to the south of the state, passing for the RMR, and to BR-232, linking to capital to the West of the state, in the sense read-West.
Tourism and recreation
Praia Sancho, beyond this beach a reserve for some 600 spinner dolphins is established in
Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco.
Muro Alto beach.
Typical flower, in Pernambuco.
The Pernambuco coastline is 187 km long.
★
Fernando de Noronha
: Fernando de Noronha is an isolated group of 21 volcanic islands approximately 340 miles from Recife. The main islands are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains, islets and rocks. The Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha hosts ecological sites ideal for exuberant marine animal life, due to its geographic location far from the continent and well within the path of the Southern Equatorial Currents, as well as the nature of its climate.
: ''How to get there:'' by plane from Recife (545km) or from Natal (360). An environmental preservation fee is charged from tourists upon arrival.
★
Porto de Galinhas
: It's famous for being one of the most beautiful beaches of the Brazilian coast, due to its landscape. Warm clear water pools scattered around its coral reefs, estuaries, mangroves, coconut trees and a number of other samples of abundant nature richness make Porto de Galinhas a place not to be missed or forgotten.
: ''How to get there:'' can be reached through Highways BR-101 Sul, PE-060, PE-038 and PE-09.
★
Boa Viagem
: If you are looking for a good beach but don't want to take a long journey to get there, Boa Viagem is the best choice. Located in the privileged southern Recife metropolitan area, Boa Viagem is the most important and frequented beach in town. It is protected by a long reef wall and has an extensive coastline.
: ''How to get there:'' Boa Viagem, Recife.
★
Ilha de Itamaracá
: Separated from the mainland by the Jaguaribe River, it has several highly frequented beaches. Among them are Forte Orange, Praia do Sossego and Pontal da Ilha. On the island you can visit the Marine Manatee Preservation Center.
: ''How to get there:'' you can reach the island through Highway BR-101 Norte, going past Igarassu, Itapissuma, and reaching Itamaracá at km 34.
★
MaracaÃpe
: Beach with big waves. MaracaÃpe hosts a phase of the Brazilian Surf Tournament. Highly frequented by surfers and neighbor to Porto de Galinhas, MaracaÃpe.
: ''How to get there:'' can be reached through Highways BR-101 Sul, PE-060, PE-038 and PE-09.
★
Tamandaré
: Small waves and fine sand can be found there. Considered by many as the best beach for bathing and swimming in Pernambuco. Easy to reach from Recife.
: ''How to get there:'' through Highway BR-101 Sul, PE-060 and PE-076.
★
Calhetas
: Small bay of difficult access. Searched for by many for diving.
: ''How to get there:'' you can reach Calhetas through BR-101 Sul and PE-060.
★
Coroa do Avião
: Famous small island, in the middle of the Jaguaribe River delta, which can be reached only by boat or raft, from Recife or Itamaracá.
: ''How to get there:'' from Itamaracá only by boat or raft.
Main Cities
★
Abreu e Lima
★
Araripina
★
Arcoverde
★
Cabo de Santo Agostinho - Where the important Suape port is situated.
★
Camaragibe
★
Carpina
★
Caruaru - Main city in the country side.
★
Condado - Condado is located at the ''Zona da Mata'' region of the state, also called Princesinha da
★
Exu
★
Floresta
★
Garanhuns - Highland city, pleasant climate.
★
Goiana
★
Gravatá - Another highland city with bland climate, known as the "Brazilian-northern Swiss" because of its weather and European-influenced architecture with Alpine-style buildings.
★
Igarassu
★
Ipojuca - It includes Porto de Galinhas beach.
★
Jaboatão dos Guararapes
★
Limoeiro
★
Moreno
★
Nazaré da Mata - Capital of the Maracatu
★
Olinda - Historical site, first capital.
★
Ouricuri
★
Palmares
★
Paulista
★
Pesqueira
★
Petrolândia
★
Petrolina
★
Recife - State capital.
★
Santa Cruz do Capibaribe
★
São Lourenço da Mata
★
Serra Talhada
★
Sertânia
★
Surubim
★
Triunfo
★
Timbaúba
★
Vitória de Santo Antão
See also:
★
List of cities in Brazil (all cities and municipalities)
Basic Public Services
Households covered by the following public services:
SERVICE
★ Water
★ Sewage
★ Garbage collection
★ Electricity
★ Landline telephone line
PERNAMBUCO
★ 75.1%
★ 40.6%
★ 78.6%
★ 98.0%
★ 59.2%
BAHIA
★ 75.1%
★ 46.6%
★ 71.4%
★ 91.2%
★ 46.2%
CEARÃ
★ 74.0%
★ 40.8%
★ 72.2%
★ 95.6%
★ 49,9%
MARANHAO
★ 61.3%
★ 49.5%
★ 59.6%
★ 84.0%
★ 37.4%
MATO GROSSO
★ 66.5%
★ 44.0%
★ 72.9%
★ 94.3%
★ 68.6%
GOIÃS
★ 77.0%
★ 36.6%
★ 89.1%
★ 99.0%
★ 75.9%
MINAS GERAIS
★ 86.6%
★ 74.8%
★ 84.9%
★ 98.1%
★ 71.5%
RIO DE JANEIRO
★ 86.8%
★ 88.1%
★ 97.5%
★ 99.9%
★ 84.1%
SAO PAULO
★ 96.2%
★ 93.1%
★ 98.4%
★ 99.8%
★ 85.1%
RIO GRANDE DO SUL
★ 84.6%
★ 80.7%
★ 87.6%
★ 98.9%
★ 88.4%
Data Source: IBGE.
When compared to the other three largest Northeastern states (Bahia, Ceará and Maranhao), Pernambuco's performance is above average on four of the five services (water, garbage collection, electricity and landline telephone lines). In certain categories, Pernambuco's performance is similar to those of states in the Center-West (data are presented for Mato Grosso and Goiás). Nonetheless, the state's figures are still substantially behind those of Southeastern or Southern states (data are presented for São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul).
Institutions
★
Polytechnic School, Pernambuco University [2]
★
Federal University of Pernambuco
★
Federal Rural University of Pernambuco www.ufrpe.br
★
Pernambucan Football Federation
External links
★
Official Website
★
Tourism Official Website
★
Cities of Pernambuco
See also
:'Pernambuco' is also the name of a tropical tree used for
lumber and red
dye. Species ''Caesalpinia echinata''. It was also called
brazilwood (in
Portuguese, ''pau-brasil''), and gave its name to the country, rather than the other way around.
Notes
1. The presented pronunciation is in Brazilian Portuguese variant spoken in Pernambuco. The European Portuguese pronunciation is: //.
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