Rio Grande do Norte
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What is Rio Grande do Norte?
Rio Grande do Norte is a primarily agricultural state in northeastern Brazil, known for salt production. It is one of Brazil's smallest states, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east, Ceará to the west, and Paraíba to the south.
The capital, Natal, was founded on Christmas Day, 1599. The coastal strip around Natal is forested, with salt marshes, while the northern seaboard features dunes and coconut palms. The land rises inland to the Borborema Plateau and mountain ranges in the western interior.
The economy of Rio Grande do Norte centres on agriculture, with leading crops including cotton, sugarcane, and cacao. Saltworks and mining, especially tungsten mines, are also important. The state has universities in Natal and Mossoró.
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Where is Rio Grande do Norte located in Brazil?
Rio Grande do Norte is a small state in northeastern Brazil. It is primarily an agricultural and salt-producing state. Rio Grande do Norte is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and east, the state of Ceará to the west, and the state of Paraíba to the south. The capital, Natal, is near the mouth of the Potengi River on the Atlantic coast.
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What is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte?
The capital of the state of Rio Grande do Norte in northeastern Brazil is Natal. Natal was founded by the Portuguese in 1597 and given town status in 1611. The city is the state's principal commercial center and a major exporter of fish. Tourism is also a major economic activity, with extensive beaches, sand dunes, and a variety of hotels. The average daily temperatures in Natal range from 77 to 86 °F (25 to 30 °C).
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What is the climate like in Rio Grande do Norte?
Rio Grande do Norte has a semiarid climate, except for the coastland near Natal, which receives abundant rainfall due to prevailing winds from the Atlantic, supporting a forest. The northern seaboard is characterized by low, sandy terrain with dunes and coconut palms, gradually rising to low mesas.
Rainfall is generally slight, causing the few rivers, such as the Açu, Apodi, and Potengi, to flow intermittently. Average daily temperatures in Natal range from 77 to 86 °F (25 to 30 °C), with cooler temperatures at higher elevations. The state is part of Brazil's Northeast region, which includes a drier area known as the "drought quadrilateral".
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What are some important economic activities in Rio Grande do Norte?
Rio Grande do Norte is primarily an agricultural state. The salt marshes along the coast near Natal are economically significant, producing most of Brazil's crude and refined salt.
Important economic activities include:
* Agriculture Cotton, sugarcane, and cacao are leading crops. Corn (maize), rice, cassava, millet, red beans, potatoes, and coconuts are also grown.
* Cattle and horse raising
* Mining Tungsten mines are the most important in Brazil. Other mineral products include gypsum, limestone, marble, monazite, gold, and beryl.
* Manufacturing Factories in towns produce textiles, clothes, oils, leather, furniture, food, tools, plastics, ceramics, paper, and cement.
* Tourism Natal has extensive beaches, sand dunes, and a variety of hotels.
* Fishing Natal is a major exporter of fish.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some cultural or tourist attractions found in Rio Grande do Norte?
Rio Grande do Norte, a state in northeastern Brazil, offers a variety of cultural and tourist attractions. Natal, the state's capital, boasts extensive beaches, sand dunes, and a variety of hotels. Founded in 1597, Natal features a cathedral dating back to 1694 and is home to the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (1958) and the Câmara Cascudo Museum.
Other attractions include the Marine Research Institute and the Barreira do Inferno rocket base near Natal. Mossoró, the state's second-largest city, is known for its salt and clay production. The Regional University of Rio Grande do Norte (1968) is located in Mossoró.
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Rio Grande do Norte, estado (state) of northeastern Brazil. A primarily agricultural and salt-producing state and one of the smallest of all Brazilian states, it is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and east, by the state of Ceará on the west, and by the state of Paraíba on the south. The capital is Natal, so named for the date of its official founding, Christmas Day (Natal), 1599.
The coastal strip around Natal and southward is forested, and the salt marshes in this area are economically important (the saltworks produce most of Brazil’s crude and refined salt). The northern seaboard, north of Natal, is low and sandy, with dunes and coconut palms. From this narrow coastland in the north the land rises gradually to some low mesas (taboleiros). Inland from Natal and the south, the land rises abruptly to the northern edge of a hilly upland known as Borborema Plateau, which stretches southward into the states of Paraíba and Pernambuco. In the western interior of the state are several mountain ranges.
Except for the coastland from Natal southward, where the prevailing winds from the Atlantic bring abundant rainfall to support a forest, the state is semiarid. The rainfall is usually so slight that the few rivers—mainly the Açu (Piranhas), the Apodi, and the Potengi—flow only intermittently. Average daily temperatures in Natal vary from 77 to 86 °F (25 to 30 °C), but higher elevations are cooler.
Much of the forests that formerly existed were sacrificed to sugarcane production, but there are vast areas of carnauba trees in the lowlands and coconut palms on the coast, as well as a scattering of various other tropical trees and flora. Animal life is scarce, because hunters have reduced or wiped out most of the native species.
The territory was first settled by the Portuguese in the late 16th century. As early as 1534 the Portuguese crown had considered establishing fiefdoms, or captaincies, in the region, but not until 1598, after successfully repelling local French pirates, did the Portuguese succeed in establishing the Fort of the Three Wise Kings on the future site of Natal and laying the foundation of a government. From then until 1822, when Brazil proclaimed independence, the captaincy was ruled by a succession of Portuguese commanders and governors and, for a while (1633–54), by Dutch invaders. From 1822 the province of Rio Grande do Norte was part of the Brazilian Empire until it became a state in the republic in 1889.
In the colonial period the economy centred chiefly on sugar plantations, ruled by a few wealthy families and manned largely by slaves. Cotton, introduced in the 18th century, became and remains one of the leading crops in an economy that is basically agricultural; sugarcane and cacao are also grown. Other crops include corn (maize), rice, cassava, millet, red beans, potatoes, and coconut. Cattle and horses are also raised.
In addition to the saltworks, there is some mining in the Borborema Mountains, the tungsten mines being the most important in Brazil and furnishing an important export. Other mineral products include gypsum, limestone, marble, monazite, gold, and beryl. Outside of Natal and such towns as Mossoró and Caicó, socioeconomic conditions are poor. In the towns there are factories producing textiles, clothes, oils, leather, furniture, food, tools, plastics, ceramics, paper, and cement. There are universities at Natal and Mossoró.
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There are three railroads—from the harbour in Areia Branca to the city of Sousa, Paraíba, from the capital to Macau, and from Natal to Recife, the capital of Pernambuco. There are several highways—from Natal (also the site of an international airport) to the south of the country, cutting through various states; from the north of the country to Ceará; and from the coast to the western interior. Area 20,385 square miles (52,797 square km). Pop. (2022) 3,303,953.