João Pessoa

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For other uses, see João Pessoa (disambiguation).
João Pessoa
Municipality
The Municipality of João Pessoa
João Pessoa skyline as viewed from the sea
João Pessoa skyline as viewed from the sea
Flag of João Pessoa
Flag		 Official seal of João Pessoa
Seal
Nickname(s): Green City; The City where the sun rises first
Location of João Pessoa in the State of Paraíba
Location of João Pessoa in the State of Paraíba
Location of João Pessoa
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country  Brazil
State Bandeira da Paraíba.svg Paraíba
Mesoregion Mata Paraibana
Microregion João Pessoa
Founded August 5, 1585
Government
 • Mayor Luciano Cartaxo (PT)
Area
 • Municipality 210.551 km2 (81.294 sq mi)
Elevation 40 m (130 ft)
Population (2012)IBGE/2012[1]
 • Municipality 742,478
 • Density 3,500/km2 (9,100/sq mi)
 • Metro 1,298,999
Time zone BRT[2] (UTC-3)
Postal Code 58000-000
Area code(s) +55 83
Website www.joaopessoa.pb.gov.br

João Pessoa (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒʊˈɐ̃w peˈsoɐ]) is the capital of the state of Paraíba in Brazil. It was founded in 1585 and it is also known as the city where the sun rises first, as it is the easternmost city in the Americas at 34° 47′ 38″ W, 7° 9′ 28″ S. Its easternmost point is known as Ponta do Seixas. The city is considered "the second greenest in the world", with more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris, France.[3] It gained this distinction in 1992 after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations (source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK). The city is characterized by the juxtaposition of tropical beaches, modern architecture, and historic buildings from colonial periods.

João Pessoa is the capital of Paraíba, a state in the northeast region of Brazil and home to 19th and 20th century Brazilian poets and writers such as Augusto dos Anjos, José Américo de Almeida, José Lins do Rego, and Pedro Américo. It took its current name in 1930 in homage to state president (governor) João Pessoa Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, who was assassinated on 26 July of that year. It is the state's largest city, with a population of circa 770,000 (about one sixth of the state's population[4]). Its metropolitan area comprises eight other satellite cities (Bayeux, Cabedelo, Conde, Lucena, Santa Rita, and others), totalling 1,223,000 of inhabitants.

It is the capital with the shortest distance from another capital (Recife), which is approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) away, as well as Natal, 180 kilometres (110 mi) north of João Pessoa. Due to the high growth rate of these three capital cities, it is believed that for the next few decades an informal megalopolis will be set up, especially between Recife and João Pessoa.

The city is one of the oldest in the northeast of the country. Theatres, auditoriums, and convention centres are part of the available infrastructure in the city. The new Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport connects João Pessoa with many Brazilian cities.

The new "Estação Ciência, Cultura e Artes" (Science, Culture and Art Station),[5] located at the most eastern point of the Americas (Ponta das Seixas), is both an educational and cultural institution as well as a national landmark. The complex, inaugurated in 2008, was created by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer and is one of his last projects.

History

File:Johannes Vingboons - Plattegrond van Frederik Stadt (1665).jpg
Map of Frederikstadt by Johannes Vingboons (1665).

João Pessoa is the third oldest city in Brazil.[6]

The area soon proved perfect for sugar production, with the French, the Dutch, and the Portuguese all fighting to control the Paraíba region as a place to grow the lucrative sugarcane. The fortress of Santa Catarina, near João Pessoa, was built by the Portuguese to protect the city from the invading Dutch, who soon became the greatest threat to Portuguese supremacy in Portugal's Colonial Brazil.[citation needed]

From 1634 through 1654, the city was held by the Dutch, who renamed it Frederikstadt after their stadtholder Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. They renamed it Fort Margaretha after the mother of John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen, Governor of Dutch Brazil (or New Holland). The names Nossa Senhora das Neves and Santa Catarina were restored after the Portuguese reoccupation.[citation needed]

Geography

Environment

File:JoãoPessoaFromTheISS.jpg
João Pessoa, seen from the International Space Station

João Pessoa has a 20 kilometres (12 mi) beachfront.[6]

File:Rio Jaguaribe - João Pessoa - Paraíba - Brasil.jpg
Jaguaribe River.

João Pessoa has many green areas distributed among its avenues, parks, and residential neighborhoods, which support its claim as "the second greenest city in the world" with more than 7 square kilometres (2.7 sq mi) of forested land, second only to Paris. It was considered thus in 1992 after a survey of urban centres in various countries carried out by the United Nations (source: Embassy of Brazil in the UK).[7]

File:Ponta do Seixas João Pessoa.jpg
Ponta do Seixas, the easternmost point of America.

João Pessoa is situated in a tropical zone, with regular rain regimen and thus a lush vegetation (tropical rain forest).[citation needed]

Climate

Joao Pessoa has a tropical climate with very warm temperatures all year long. The only significant difference between summer and "winter" is the amount of rainfall with no significant change in temperatures as shown in the graph. The "winter" begins in March and ends in August with July usually being the wettest month.

Climate data for João Pessoa (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.8
(91)		 33
(91)		 33.6
(92.5)		 34.8
(94.6)		 32
(90)		 31.4
(88.5)		 30.2
(86.4)		 30.7
(87.3)		 32
(90)		 31.7
(89.1)		 32
(90)		 32.8
(91)		 34.8
(94.6)
Average high °C (°F) 30.2
(86.4)		 30.5
(86.9)		 30
(86)		 29.8
(85.6)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.3
(82.9)		 27.5
(81.5)		 27.8
(82)		 28.3
(82.9)		 29.3
(84.7)		 29.7
(85.5)		 30
(86)		 29.3
(84.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.1
(80.8)		 27.2
(81)		 27
(81)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26
(79)		 25.2
(77.4)		 24.2
(75.6)		 24.3
(75.7)		 25.1
(77.2)		 26.3
(79.3)		 26.7
(80.1)		 26.9
(80.4)		 26.1
(79)
Average low °C (°F) 23.7
(74.7)		 23.5
(74.3)		 23.2
(73.8)		 22.8
(73)		 22.2
(72)		 21.4
(70.5)		 20.9
(69.6)		 20.5
(68.9)		 21.5
(70.7)		 23
(73)		 23.7
(74.7)		 23.9
(75)		 22.5
(72.5)
Record low °C (°F) 19.6
(67.3)		 16.9
(62.4)		 19
(66)		 20.2
(68.4)		 19.6
(67.3)		 17
(63)		 17
(63)		 15
(59)		 13.6
(56.5)		 18.6
(65.5)		 17.8
(64)		 19.4
(66.9)		 13.6
(56.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 75.8
(2.984)		 108.4
(4.268)		 252.2
(9.929)		 349.8
(13.772)		 307.3
(12.098)		 346.1
(13.626)		 346.2
(13.63)		 183.5
(7.224)		 87.2
(3.433)		 35.4
(1.394)		 24.9
(0.98)		 28.5
(1.122)		 2,145.4
(84.465)
Average rainy days (≥ 1 mm) 8 9 15 17 17 18 21 16 11 7 5 5 149
Average relative humidity (%) 75 75 81 79 81 81 87 75 77 73 74 74 77.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 244.2 219.1 206.9 181.5 193.9 180.7 190.5 230.1 235.1 266.2 272.7 274.2 2,695.1
Source: Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET).[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]

Demographics

According to the IBGE of 2009, there were 702,000 people residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 45.72% White, 38.72% Pardo (two or more races), 2.77% Black, and 0.25% Asian or Amerindian.[17]

Religion

Religion Percentage Number
Catholic 74.06% 442,841
Protestant 15.92% 95,191
No religion 7.41% 44,332
Spiritist 1.10% 6,571

Source: IBGE 2000.[18]

Education and culture

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. The official language is Portuguese and the dialectal differences regarding other Brazilian varieties are mainly phonological (Northeastern accent). Portuguese is the primary language taught in schools and it is spoken by 100% of the population. English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum.

Higher education

One of the buildings of the State University of Paraíba.

The city is home to the Federal University of Paraíba and the State University of Paraíba[citation needed]

File:Estação Cabo Branco.JPG
Estação Cabo Branco by Oscar Niemeyer in the east-southwestern plateau (or Altiplano plateau).

Transportation

International airport

Joao Pessoa is served by Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport.[19]

File:Bus changing lane Joao Pessoa.jpg
Bus changing lane at Rui Carneiro Avenue, Joao Pessoa (urban hinterland of eastern region).

Economy

The GDP for the city was R$ 5,024,604,000 (2005).[20]

The per capita income for the city was R$ 7,604 (2005).[21]

Main sights

Cabo Branco lighthouse at Ponta do Seixas in southeastern region of the city.
File:Lagoa a noite.jpg
Solon de Lucena Park's lagoon at night in the northwestern region (the downtown zone or district).
João Pessoa's evening skyline (center-eastern region).
File:JoaoPessoa ConventoSaoFrancisco.JPG
Saint Francis Church and Saint Anthony Convent (northern region).

João Pessoa is located in the easternmost point of the Americas and is the second greenest city in the world, coupled with 40 km of tropical beaches. Tourism is one of João Pessoa's chief economic activities, together with construction, food, metalworking, and other industries. Sugar cane agriculture and related industries are also important. Historically, Tarcisio de Miranda Burity, a former governor, has made major strides to improve the infrastructure of the city and to support the arts. Today, João Pessoa has a growing tourist and commercial industry. The second-largest mall in the Northeast region of Brazil, Shopping Manaira, is located in Joao Pessoa.[citation needed]

João Pessoa has one publication which highlights its tourist attractions: The Guia Mais Joao Pessoa.[22] Major local newspapers, such as O Correio da Paraiba and O Norte, highlight a wide range of events on a weekly basis. Below are a few of the major attractions.

Parks

  • Solon de Lucena Park. Located at the commercial centre of the city, it has numerous centenary imperial palm trees, golden trumpet trees, and acacias – the tree symbol of the city. At the centre there is a luminous fountain.
  • Arruda Câmara Park. Also known as "Bica" because of an old mineral water fountain, it features a zoo, botanic garden, and leisure areas.

Monuments

  • Cabo Branco Lighthouse is located at the easternmost inland point in the Country and allows panoramic views of the city. From there all the Ponta das Seixas beach can be seen.

Museums

Source:[19]

  • Museu Sacro e de Arte Popular, within the São Francisco church.
  • Espaço Cultural José Lins do Rego. A cultural centre including history and science museums.
  • City Museum. The former Casa da Pólvora, an old gunpowder store.
  • Museu Fotográfico Walfredo Rodríguez.

Sports

João Pessoa provides visitors and residents with various sport activities.

References

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External links

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  4. ↑ 2010 IBGE
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  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Religion in João Pessoa by IBGE
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Guia Mais Joao Pessoa 01.01.2008
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