Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais

Governador Valadares is a city in the countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is the ninth most populated city in the state.

The city is next to the Doce River and is about 324 km from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais.

In the 1500s, explorers came to the Doce River looking for valuable metals. The town grew after the Vitória-Minas Railway was built in 1907. The nearby coffee farms and wood fields helped the town grow.

Today, people in the city work mainly in commerce, agribusiness, and making things.

Geography

Governador Valadares is an important city in the Intermediate Geographic Region of Governador Valadares. Before 2017, it was part of a group of nearby towns.

The city's landscape has different kinds of land. About 60% of it is gently rolling, 25% is rugged, and 15% is flat. The southern part, where the city is, sits in a valley along the Doce River. This area has gentle hills and valleys. The highest point is Pico da Ibituruna, which rises to 1,123 meters.

The climate here is warm, with an average temperature of 32.6 °C (90.7 °F). The hottest temperatures can reach up to 40.7 °C (105.3 °F), while the coolest drop to about 18.3 °C (65 °F). The area receives about 1,350 mm of rain each year.

History

Colonization of the region

The area where Governador Valadares is today has been home to indigenous people for a very long time. Explorers first recorded these communities after Brazil was discovered in 1500. In the 1500s, explorers searched for valuable metals along the Rio Doce. One explorer traveled up the river and found the Santo Antônio River.

Settling in the area became allowed in 1755. To protect settlers and traders using the Doce River, small military stations were built. The first settlement was called Baguari, and nearby, a place named Figueira grew up.

In 1818, another small port and trading place called D.Manoel was built near Figueira on the Doce River. Later, in 1884, Figueira became an official district under Peçanha. It was named Santo Antônio da Figueira.

General information

The area was used for trade and had steam-powered mills.

• 1923 – Figueira

In 1937, the town became an official municipality and was renamed Governador Valadares to honor the current governor, Benedito Valadares.

Since the 1980s, many people from Governador Valadares have moved to live and work in the United States. They often sent money back home. However, during the late 2000s, many returned when financial conditions in the United States changed.

Economy

Governador Valadares is a busy city in eastern Minas Gerais. It is famous for trading precious stones, which is why the "Brazil Gem Show" happens there every year. People from Brazil and other countries come to buy and sell beautiful gems.

The city is growing with more factories and industries. It has sawmills and food-processing plants. Miners find special stones like amethyst, chrysoberyl, brazilianite, topaz, and quartz in the area. The Golconda mine is one of the oldest and attracts visitors and stone collectors from around the world.

Transportation

Governador Valadares has a railroad called Vitória-Minas, run by Vale S.A.. It is connected by the Rio-Bahia highway (BR-116) and links to the state’s capital through BR-381.

The city is on the Belo Horizonte–Vitória railway and the Rio de Janeiro–Salvador highway. Here are the distances to some major cities:

• Belo Horizonte – 311 km
• Rio de Janeiro – 580 km
• São Paulo – 891 km
• Brasília – 1,045 km
• Vitória – 420 km

Sport

Governador Valadares is known for its hang gliding competitions. People from around the world visit the city for events at Ibituruna Peak. From this high spot, you can see the whole Rio Doce valley. The city has hosted parts of the Brazilian hang gliding championship and many international hang gliding competitions.

Neighborhoods

One of the neighborhoods in Governador Valadares is called Vila Imperio.

Sister cities

Governador Valadares has friendly connections with several cities in the United States. These cities are called "sister cities." They work together and share traditions.

The sister cities of Governador Valadares are:

• Framingham, Massachusetts, United States
• Everett, Massachusetts, United States
• Newark, New Jersey, United States
• Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States

Notable people

Governador Valadares is home to several well-known people. Warlley Alves is a famous mixed martial arts fighter. Eike Batista is a successful entrepreneur. The city has also produced football players like Geraldão, Lucas Venuto, and Yasmim.