Paraná (state)

Paraná is one of the 26 states of Brazil. It is found in the south of the country. Paraná touches many places. To the north is São Paulo state. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean. To the south are Santa Catarina state and the Argentine province of Misiones. To the west are Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay.

The capital city of Paraná is Curitiba. Other big cities are Londrina, Maringá, Ponta Grossa, Cascavel, São José dos Pinhais, and Foz do Iguaçu. Many people live in Paraná, and it helps a lot with Brazil’s economy.

Paraná has special places. Near the border with Argentina is the National Park of Iguaçu. This park is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Close to Paraguay is the Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam, one of the biggest dams in the world. Paraná is safe and does very well economically.

Paraná has many kinds of weather. The north and west, and the east coast, have hot summers. The rest of the state has milder summers. The temperatures are usually between 15 to 24°C. Coastal areas are a little cooler, between 16–18°C.

Paraná is also home to two famous football teams: Club Athletico Paranaense and Coritiba Foot Ball Club. They play 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 and other big competitions.