Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais

Governador Valadares is a city in the countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil. In 2025, it had a population of 266,561 people, making it the ninth most populated city in the state. The city is an important economic center in the middle valley of the Doce River, influencing parts of Minas Gerais and the nearby state of Espírito Santo.

The city sits on the banks of the Doce River, about 324 km from Belo Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais. It covers an area of about 2,342 km², though only 58 km² of this is urban space.

The history of Governador Valadares began in the early 16th century when explorers searched the Doce River for precious metals. Settlements grew between the 18th and 19th centuries, with buildings created to protect settlers from attacks. The building of the Vitória-Minas Railway in 1907 helped the town grow. Its location near coffee farms and wood fields also helped commerce and population growth.

After the 1940s, the discovery of precious metals caused more people to move to the area, along with growth in livestock and trade. When natural resources became scarce, the city's economy depended more on immigrants and their investments. Today, commerce, agribusiness, and local manufacturing are the main sources of income for the city.

Geography

Governador Valadares is an important city in the Intermediate Geographic Region of Governador Valadares. Before 2017, it was part of a group of 25 nearby towns.

The city's landscape has different types 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 at least 10,000 years. 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, but settlers were not allowed at first to prevent illegal gold mining.

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, which is part of today’s city. Indigenous people were seen as a danger, and the military stations helped move them away.

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, earning the town a playful nickname. However, during the late 2000s, many returned when financial conditions in the United States changed.

Economy

Governador Valadares is a busy city and a major commercial center in the eastern part of Minas Gerais. It is known for its trade in 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 also 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, one of the oldest, draws visitors and stone collectors from around the world.

Transportation

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

The city lies 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 famous for its hang gliding competitions. People from all over the world come to the city to take part in events held at Ibituruna Peak. From this high spot, you can see the entire Rio Doce valley. The city has also hosted stages of the Brazilian hang gliding championship and several 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," meaning 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 individuals. 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.