Teresópolis

For the neighbourhood in Porto Alegre, Brazil, see Teresópolis, Rio Grande do Sul.

Coordinates: 22°24′43″S 42°57′57″W / 22.41194°S 42.96583°W / -22.41194; -42.96583

Teresópolis
Município de Teresópolis

View from Pedra do Sino

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): Terê
Motto: "Sub Digitum Dei"
(Latin for, "Under God's Finger")

Anthem:

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Location of Teresópolis in the state of Rio de Janeiro
Coordinates: 22°24′43″S 42°57′57″W / 22.41194°S 42.96583°W / -22.41194; -42.96583
Country Brazil
Region Southeast
State Rio de Janeiro
Founded 1891
Government
 • Mayor Arlei de Oliveira Rosa
Area
 • Total 770.6 km2 (297.5 sq mi)
Elevation 871 m (2,858 ft)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 163,746
 • Density 212.5/km2 (550/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
Website teresopolis.rj.gov.br

Teresópolis (Portuguese pronunciation: [teɾeˈzɔpolis]) is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, in a mountainous region known as Região Serrana. The Serra dos Órgãos National Park lies partly within the city limits. The city is known as the home of the Brazilian national football team, since it hosts CBF's training ground at Granja Comary.[2]

History

Founding of Teresopolis by then Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Francisco Portela on July 6, 1890.

Before the arrival of the Portuguese to the area where Teresópolis lies today, in the 16th century, it was inhabited by Indians. In the following centuries, Portuguese started buying land there. The region was also occupied by a quilombo, formed by runaway slaves coming from sugar cane plantations near Rio de Janeiro.

In 1821, English citizen George March (born and raised in Portugal) established a farm there, which later became the most important settlement along the way between the court, in Rio de Janeiro, and the territory of Gerais (nowadays, the state of Minas Gerais), which led to the great improvement of agriculture and cattle raising.

The Brazilian imperial family was much impressed by the natural beauty and the climate of the region, which developed slowly so that in 1855 the settlement became a village that was named Freguesia de Santo Antonio de Paquequer.

The further development of the village was due to the traders that came from Minas Gerais in the way to Rio de Janeiro, and used the region as a resting stop. Finally, on July 6, 1891, the village became a municipality that was named Teresópolis ("city of Teresa"), after Empress Teresa Cristina, wife of Emperor Pedro II.

Geography

According to the 2010 Brazilian Census, the city has a population of 163,746 within a land area of 770,6 km2. The Serra dos Órgãos National Park is in the vicinity. Its predominant vegetation belongs to the Atlantic Forest type. The city is surrounded by forests and by well-known summits or peaks, because of which the city is known as the national capital of mountaineering. The most famous peaks are:

Of these, Dedo de Deus ("God's finger") is the most famous.

The municipality contains the 4,397 hectares (10,870 acres) Montanhas de Teresópolis Municipal Nature Park, created in 2009 to protect a large area of Atlantic Forest.[3] The municipality contained the 2,700 hectares (6,700 acres) Floresta do Jacarandá Environmental Protection Area, but this was extinguished in 2013.[4][5] It contains the 7,500 hectares (19,000 acres) Bacia dos Frades Environmental Protection Area, created in 1990.[6] The municipality contains 20% of the 46,350 hectares (114,500 acres) Três Picos State Park, created in 2002.[7] It contains part of the Central Rio de Janeiro Atlantic Forest Mosaic of conservation units, created in 2006.[8]

Climate

A woman passes by a digital thermometer which scores 8°C (46.4°F) during a typical winter day.

Teresópolis features a Subtropical highland climate type Cwb, with relatively cold and dry winters and mild and wet summers. The annual average temperature is 16 °C/60.8 °F.

Teresópolis has one of the mildest climates in Brazil[9] and this is one reason why the area has been chosen as Brazilian Football Confederation's training headquarters, hosting the Brazil national football team, located in Granja Comary.

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average High °C 26 27 24 23 21 19 18 20 21 20 22 25 21
Average Low °C 17 18 16 14 10 9 8 7 10 12 14 15 12
Precipitation mm 274.7 259.8 226.4 138.4 84.4 62.3 50.6 60.0 49.1 142.2 217.0 314.9 1,879.8

Tragedy

The uncontrolled growth of Teresópolis and other cities of the mountainous region near Rio de Janeiro led to the construction of a great number of houses in mountainous terrain or on the banks of rivers. This fact, together with a 24-hour rainfall that exceeded what was expected for the entire month, caused a series of floods and mudslides in January 2011. More than 400 people died and thousands lost their houses in the event, which is considered the worst weather-related tragedy in Brazilian history. .[10][11]

Sister cities

Teresópolis' sister cities are:

References

  1. ↑
  2. ↑ http://www.teresopolison.com/cbf.php
  3. ↑ Parque Natural Municipal Montanhas de Teresópolis (in Portuguese), Prefeitura Municipal de Teresópolis: Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, retrieved 2016-10-04
  4. ↑ APA Floresta do Jacarandá (in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental, retrieved 2016-10-03
  5. ↑ Parque Estadual dos Três Picos (in Portuguese), INEA: Instituto Estadual do Ambiente, retrieved 2016-10-03
  6. ↑ APA da Bacia dos Frades (in Portuguese), INEA: Instituto Estadual do Ambiente, retrieved 2016-10-03
  7. ↑ PES dos Três Picos (in Portuguese), ISA: Instituto Socioambiental, retrieved 2016-10-03
  8. ↑ Costa, Cláudia; Lamas, Ivana; Fernandes, Rosan (December 2010), Planejamento Estratégico do Mosaico Central Fluminense (PDF) (in Portuguese), Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica, p. 13, retrieved 2016-10-02
  9. ↑ "Os encantos de Teresópolis". Geórgia Honório. 365 dias viajando. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 5 November 2011.
  10. ↑ Stuart Grudgings (January 12, 2011). "UPDATE 5-At least 257 died as rains pummeled this Brazilian region". Reuters. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  11. ↑ Tom Phillips (January 14, 2011). "Brazil Landslides Death Toll Rises". The Guardian. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Teresópolis.

Official

Tourism

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