Paraná (state)

Paraná is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the south of the country. It shares borders with São Paulo to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Santa Catarina state and the Argentine province of Misiones to the south, and Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay to the west. The Paraná River forms its western boundary. The state capital is Curitiba, and other important cities include Londrina, Maringá, Ponta Grossa, Cascavel, São José dos Pinhais, and Foz do Iguaçu.

Paraná is home to about 5.4% of Brazil's population and contributes 6.2% to the country's GDP. The state lies on the Tropic of Capricorn and contains parts of the araucaria forest, a valuable subtropical forest. Near its border with Argentina is the National Park of Iguaçu, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO. Close to the border with Paraguay stands the Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam, one of the largest dams in the world. Paraná is known for its low crime rates and is among the most developed states in Brazil, ranking fourth in gross domestic product after Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Minas Gerais.

History

Main article: History of Paraná

For thousands of years before Europeans arrived, many native groups lived in the area that is now Paraná. Two of these groups were the Carijó near the coast, who were part of the Tupi family, and the Caingangues further inland, who belonged to the Jê family.

In the 1500s, Europeans began exploring the region, mostly along the coast. Because Portugal paid little attention to this area, other European countries, especially Spain, came to explore and search for valuable brazilwood. Spanish explorers brought priests called Jesuits, who set up special settlements called Jesuit reductions in the western parts of Paraná. One early town named Ontiveros was founded in 1554 by a leader named Domingo Martínez de Irala near Guaíra Falls.

Later, in the 1940s, more people moved into Paraná from nearby areas as coffee farming grew in the north and people from Rio Grande do Sul settled in the southeast.

Geography

Paraná is a state in southern Brazil. It is bordered to the north by São Paulo state, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and to the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay. The Paraná River forms its western border.

The state has five main areas from east to west: a coastal zone, the mountains of Serra do Mar, and three plateaus that get lower as you move west until you reach the Paraná River.

The climate in Paraná varies. The north and west, as well as the east coast, have a Cfa climate type. The rest of the state has a Cfb climate. The northern part is where tropical and continental air masses meet.

The average temperature ranges from 15 to 24°C, with the northwest being the warmest and Palmas the coolest. Coastal areas have average temperatures between 16–18°C.

Rainfall is less than 1,200 mm a year in the north, but it increases to over 1,800 mm in the southwest and southeast.

The Cfa climate has hot summers and is found along the coast and western parts. The Cfb climate has mild summers and occurs at higher elevations.

Demographics

Paraná is the sixth most populous state in Brazil, with about 83.5% of its people living in cities.

The people of Paraná come from many backgrounds. Most are of European descent, especially from Portugal, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine. There are also many people of mixed heritage, as well as smaller groups of Black, Asian, and Indigenous peoples. The state has many cities, and the most popular religions include Catholicism and Protestantism.

Educational institutions

• Federal University of Paraná
• Positivo University
• Federal University of Technology – Paraná (UTFPR)
• Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná
• Centro Universitário Curitiba (UNICURITIBA)
• State University of Ponta Grossa
• State University of Londrina
• State University of Maringá
• Universidade Estadual do Centro-Oeste
• Western Paraná State University
• North Paraná State University (UNP)
• Universidade Estadual do Paraná (UNESPAR)
• Centro Universitário Unifacear

Economy

In 2013, Paraná had the fifth largest economy in Brazil, making up 5.9% of the country's total economy.

About 15% of Paraná’s economy comes from farming. Another 40% comes from industry, and the remaining 45% comes from services. The main things Paraná exports include soybeans, chicken meat, sugar, soybean meal, and corn. The state’s biggest company is Copel, which provides electricity and other utilities.

The main economic activities in Paraná are farming, industry (like making cars and paper), and gathering natural products like wood and yerba mate. Even though many people live well, finding jobs can be hard, especially for people from other countries.

Infrastructure

Roads

In 2021, Paraná had 120,930 km of roads, with 21,173 km paved. Out of these, 1,475 km were roads with two directions of traffic side by side.

There is a plan to let private companies help improve the main roads in the state, like BR-369, BR-376, BR-277, and others. This project aims to make 1,782 km of roads better in many ways.

The capital city, Curitiba, has a special road that goes around the city. Only the northern part, where fewer people live, is not finished yet.

International airports

The state has several airports. The biggest ones are:

• Afonso Pena International Airport in São José dos Pinhais, which serves Curitiba.
• Foz do Iguaçu International Airport
• Londrina Airport
• Cascavel Airport
• Maringá Regional Airport

In 1957, airplanes flew to 31 cities in the state.

Ports

Paraná has the Port of Paranaguá, one of the biggest ports in the country. In 2021, it handled 56 million tons of goods. There is also the Port of Antonina, which handled 1.5 million tons of goods that same year.

Many products from Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and even Paraguay are sent to the Port of Paranaguá to be shipped overseas. Several railroads connect to Paranaguá, including Ferroeste, Malha Sul, and the Curitiba-Paranaguá Railroad.

Sports

Paraná is home to two famous football teams: Club Athletico Paranaense and Coritiba Foot Ball Club. They play against each other in a match called the Atletiba derby. The city of Curitiba was one of the host cities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Many athletes from Paraná have won medals in the Olympics. Some of these athletes include Vanderlei Cordeiro de Lima and Édson Ribeiro in running, Natália Falavigna in taekwondo, Douglas Vieira in judo, and Cyro Delgado in swimming. Others, like Giba, Serginho, Elisângela Oliveira, and Filó, have won medals in volleyball, while Emanuel Rego won in beach volleyball. Additional world championship medalists from Paraná include Jadel Gregório in running and Amanda, Karol Souza, and Mayara Moura in handball.