Espírito Santo
Espírito Santo is one of the states of Brazil. It has an area of 46.184 sq. km. and a population of approximately 2,700,000. Its capital is Vitória. Those who are born in this state are known as Capixabas.
Flag:
Flag of Espírito Santo
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The current governor of the state is Paulo Hartung (PSB/Brazilian Socialist Party).
Location
This Brazilian state is in the east of the southeastern subdivision of Brazil, which also contains the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. It has as its limits: The Atlantic Ocean (E), the state of Bahia (N), the state of Minas Gerais (N) and (W), and the state of Rio de Janeiro (S). Espírito Santo's main cities (outside of the Grater Vitoria rigion) are Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Colatina, Guarapari, Linhares, Muniz Freire and Vila Velha.
Historically
The area had been granted to Vasco Coutinho just after the discovery of Brazil in 1500. He arrived to the "district" (Capitania in portuguese) of Espírito Santo in 23 of may 1535, with another 60 people. The capital of the dstrict was first Vila Velha, but because of violent clashes with indians, it had to be moved and Vitória, was founded on the 8th of september 1551, on the island, just next to Vila Velha. The district remained propery of the heirs of Vasco Coutinho for 140 years. It remained a district for 287 years till 1821, when it became a province. In 1889, with the advent of the republic it finally became a state. Economically the state depended mainly on sugarcane plantations and sugar manufacture, up till the 1850's when that position was taken over by coffee, as it grew in importance. In 1556, after the arrival of missionaries, Serra, Nova Almeida and Santa Cruz were founded. Politically with the Brazilian declaration of independence in 1822, the District Directors, became known as Provincial Presidents. In the same way the district of Espírito Santo became Espírito Santo Provice. In 1889 after the adoption of a republican system, Afonso Cláudio de Freitas Rosa became the first governor of Espirito Santo state. He was follwoed in 1892 by Muniz Freire who came to power for two terms, followed by Jerônimo Monteiro in office from 1908 to 1912. Up until Getúlio Vargas took national power the governors were elected by the congress, after this, a period of interveeners were sent to govern the state. A short period of democracy returned when Carlos Monteiro Lindenberg was elected by Capixabas. However, after the 1964 military coup interveeners were once again chosen by the national assembly. After Cristiano Dias Lopes, Arthur Carlos Gerhard Santos, Elcio Álvares and Eurico Rezende being chosen this way, elections chose Gerson Camata through to José Inácio Ferreira, who came into office in 1999.
Geographically
The state can be divided into two areas: the low lying coastline and the highland area known as "Serra", where one finds the "Pico da Bandeira" mountain with a hight of 2.890m, which is part of the larger "serra do Caparaó", or Caparaó Highlands. Note the map to the right which shows Espirito Santo and its political divisions into municipalities. (See: Espirito Santo Municipalities article)
Economically
Within agriculture, the main crops are rice, coffee (one of the most important in Brazil), cocoa, sugarcane, beans, fruit (bananas and papayas) and maize. Livestock economy features cattle for beef and for milk. Industry consists mainly of processed food, forestry, textiles and iron and steal works. This last concentrated around Cariacica and the "Vale do Rio Doce" iron-works.
Vitória is an importan port for exporting iron and steal. Guarapari is a local tourist destination, known for its curative black sand beaches which are even commercially exploited. In São Mateus petrolium reserves have been found in reserves on its continental shelf, and today are being commecilally exploited.
Tourism plays an increasing role in the state, mostly from neighbouring states, who may choose coastal destinations such as Guarapari, Jacaraipe or Manguinhos, but may also choose mountain retreats such as Domingos Martins.
Information above is from: The Brazilian Government's Website.
Towns in the state Include:
Afonso Cláudio, Água Doce do Norte, Águia Branca, Alegre, Alfredo Chaves, Alto Rio Novo, Anchieta, Apiacá, Aracruz, Atilio Vivacqua, Baixo Guandu, Barra de São Francisco, Boa Esperança, Bom Jesus do Norte, Brejetuba, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Cariacica, Castelo, Colatina, Conceição da Barra, Conceição do Castelo, Divino de São Lourenço, Domingos Martins, Dores do Rio Preto, Ecoporanga, Fundão, Guaçuí, Guarapari, Ibatiba, Ibiraçu, Ibitirama, Iconha, Irupi, Itaguaçu, Itapemirim, Itarana, Iúna, Jaguaré, Jerônimo Monteiro, João Neiva, Laranja da Terra, Linhares, Mantenópolis, Marataízes, Marechal Floriano, Marilândia, Mimoso do Sul, Montanha, Mucurici,Muniz Freire, Muqui, Nova Venécia, Pancas, Pedro Canário, Pinheiros, Piúma, Ponto Belo, Presidente Kennedy, Rio Bananal, Rio Novo do Sul, Santa Leopoldina, Santa Maria de Jetibá, Santa Teresa, São Domingos do Norte, São Gabriel da Palha, São José do Calçado, São Mateus, São Roque do Canaã, Serra, Sooretama, Vargem Alta, Venda Nova do Imigrante, Viana, Vila Pavão, Vila Valério, Vila Velha, Vitória.