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Porto Alegre
Municipality
The Municipality of Porto Alegre
From upper left: Farroupilha Park; Guaíba Lake; panoramic view of the port of the city; The Usina; Monument to the Azorean with the Administrative Center of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.From upper left: Farroupilha Park; Guaíba Lake; panoramic view of the port of the city; The Usina; Monument to the Azorean with the Administrative Center of the State of Rio Grande do Sul.
FlagOfficial seal of Porto AlegreSeal
Nickname(s): Porto (spoken), POA (written)
Motto(s): Loyal and Valiant city of Porto Alegre
Country	Brazil
Region	South
State	Rio Grande do Sul
Founded	1742
Government
• Mayor	José Fortunati (PDT)
Area
• Municipality	496.8 km (191.8 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population
• Municipality	1,436,123 (11th)
• Density	2,815.6/km (7,292/sq mi)
• Metro	4,063,886
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Postal Code	90000-000
Area code	+55 51
Website	Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul

Porto Alegre (Template:IPA-pt "happy port") is the eleventh most populous municipality in Brazil and the centre of Brazil's fourth largest metropolitan area. It is also the capital city of the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is the southernmost capital city of a Brazilian state. Porto Alegre is one of the most important cultural, political and economic centers of Brazil. Two Mercosul countries, Argentina and Uruguay, border on the State of Rio Grande do Sul.

Porto Alegre was founded in 1742 by immigrants from the Azores, Portugal. In the late 19th century the city received many immigrants from other parts of the world, particularly Germany, Italy, and Poland. The vast majority of the population is of European descent.

The city lies on the eastern bank of the Rio Guaiba (Guaiba Lake), where five rivers converge to form the Lagoa dos Patos (Lagoon of the Ducks), a giant freshwater lagoon navigable by even the largest of ships. This five-river junction has become an important alluvial port as well as a chief industrial and commercial center of Brazil.

The port of Porto Alegre is important for transporting local produce. The "Gaucho capital" has a broad-based economy that lays particular emphasis on agriculture and industry. Agricultural production includes produce such as plums, peaches, rice and cassava grown on rural smallholdings. The shoe and leather industries are also important, especially in Novo Hamburgo, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre.

Porto Alegre has a long coastline on the Guaíba Lake, and its topography is punctuated by 40 hills. In the lake, a vast body of water, a maze of islands facing the city creates an archipelago where a unique ecosystem gives shelter to abundant wildlife. The city area concentrates 28% of the native flora of Rio Grande do Sul, with 9,288 species. Among these, there are many trees which are the vestiges of the Atlantic Forest. Fauna are also diversified, specially in the islands and hills. The Portoalegrense environs include many parks, squares and wooded streets.

In recent years, Porto Alegre hosted the World Social Forum, an initiative of several non-government organizations. The 9th Assembly of the World Council of Churches was held in Porto Alegre in 2006.

The city

The city is located on a delta resulting from the junction of five rivers, officially called Guaíba Lake (popularly mentioned as a river too). Although its origins date from the mid-18th century, when immigrants from the Azores settled in the area, the city was officially established in 1742. Porto Alegre is also one of the wealthiest cities in Latin America, and one of the most diverse. It has welcomed immigrants from all over the world, the largest numbers coming from Portugal, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland. There are also significant Arab and Jewish contingents in the population. The Afro-Brazilian population is also large in the city.

Before this, Porto Alegre was the port of Viamão on the shore of Guaíba Lake. Its ancient name was Porto dos Casais (Port of the Couples), and it was initially settled by Azorians. Many families of settlers also came from the city of Rio Grande (Big River) in the littoral Lagunar region, to the south, a military fortress at that time. Today Rio Grande is the most important port of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The city is also known as "Porto do Sol" (Port of the Sun) and "Cidade Sorriso" (Smile City). More than 70 neighborhoods (see below) are part of the city and two-thirds of the population are concentrated in the Zona Norte (Northern Zone), where most of the economic activity, including the city center, takes place.

Porto Alegre was the seat of the World Social Forum in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2010. As the second largest city in southern Brazil, it is also an important industrial center in this geographical area. It is also a center for gaúcho (the popular name for natives of the state) history and culture, famous for its churrasco (barbecue) and chimarrão (a strong and hot tea prepared from erva mate). Important Brazilian universities, such as UFRGS, UFCSPA and PUCRS are located there. In 2000, the literacy rate was 97%. The high quality of life is one of the city's main features. Here people will find an excellent urban infrastructure, telecommunications and excellent medical service.

Geography

Climate

Porto Alegre is located in the subtropical zone and thus features a humid subtropical climate. Average precipitation is high and regular throughout the year. Summer temperatures often rise above 32 °C (90 °F) and high levels of humidity make the season very muggy. Subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. Significant amounts of precipitation occur in all seasons in most areas. Most summer rainfall occurs during thunderstorms and an occasional tropical storm, hurricane or cyclone.

The winter is mild, windy, and quite changeable, which is also a feature of this time of the year. Usual winter temperatures range from 8 °C (46 °F) to 20 °C (68 °F). Snow is very rare, sometimes confused with sleet. The main snowfall events in Porto Alegre were in 1879, 1910, 1962, 1984, 2000 and 2006. Fall tends to be as changeable as winter, but are typically warmer. Spring, stabler akin to summer, is slightly drier than all the other seasons. Occurrence of radiation fog is common, causing several delays in early flights.

Vegetation

Porto Alegre lies in a transitional area between the subtropical forest and the Southern Brazilian grasslands (pampa). A number of conservation programmes have been established here to protect native trees. Many of the city's avenues have been planted with different tree species. One striking example of this is Teresópolis Avenue, where bottle trees have been planted. The city is covered in green vegetation and Lapacho and Jacaranda are the main species that can be found here. The trees from the hills are protected. Two environmental conservation areas can be found in this city: "Delta do Jacuí" (Jacuí Delta) State Park and Lami Biological Reserve.

The urban area has many parks and plazas, making Porto Alegre one of the greenest provincial capitals in Brazil. The first city squares date from the second half of the 18th century and were originally large public spaces used as food markets. The city has 39 km (9,600 acres) of green space, occupying 31 percent of the city's area. This is an average of 17.6 m² per person. More than one million trees line the public streets and SMAM plants an average of 30,000 seedlings each year. The four main parks are: Parque Farroupilha, a 37-hectare (91-acre) park; Jardim Botânico (The Botanical Garden of Porto Alegre), with some 725 species of vegetation on about 43 hectares (110 acres) of land; and Parque Marinha do Brasil (The Brazilian Navy's Park), a vast park of more than 70 hectares (170 acres) which offers a wide variety of sports fields and tracks. The city's cycleway is called the Caminho dos Parques, which at over 5 km (2 mi) long links the Moinhos do Vento, Farroupilha and Guaíba shore parks.

Water

Sewer service is available to 84 percent of the city, and with 99.5 percent of the population serviced by treated water. While in most Brazilian cities the water is supplied by large state companies, in Porto Alegre the Municipal Department of Water and Sanitation Services, (DMAE) is the provider. It is the largest municipal water supplier in the country and enjoys operational autonomy and financial independence. As a separate entity from the municipal government it can make its own decisions on how to invest revenues it has collected, and such decisions are not directly subject to interference from the municipality. It receives no subsidies and makes no payments to the municipality itself. As a municipal undertaking, DMAE enjoys tax-exempt status, which allows it to keep water prices lower.

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approves US$ 83.2 million to support the Integrated Socioenvironmental Program of Porto Alegre. The program will be carried out by the Municipal Department of Management and Strategic Support and will focus on: Improving water quality in Guaíba Lake and the Cavalhada River; Developing urban infrastructure to reduce flood risk along the Cavalhada River; Improving the environmental management in the Municipality of Porto Alegre; and Promoting efficient municipal water, sanitation and storm drainage services. This program will improve the quality of life of the population of Porto Alegre by restoring water quality along the west side of Lake Guaíba and directly benefitting more than 700,000 residents through expanded public sanitation services and urban environmental improvement.

Air quality

Motor vehicles are responsible for up to 80 percent of the main atmospheric pollutant emissions. In the last 40 years, the population of the city has doubled and the number of cars has multiplied 22 times, about one vehicle for every two inhabitants. The use of new buses along dedicated busways has decreased pollutants as there is less idling time. SMAM (the Municipal Council of the Environment) has encouraged the use of the cleanest fuels and has played a role in monitoring pollution levels.

A partnership between SMAM, the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, the State Environmental Protection Foundation (FEPAM) and Petrobrás has created a network of five air monitoring stations in Porto Alegre. By utilizing a Petrobrás product called city diesel, sulphur levels in the air have dropped from 1.2 percent in 1989 to 0.5 percent. Hybrid buses which run on both diesel and electricity are also being considered for the future. Because Porto Alegre has a ready supply of natural gas, the city's taxi fleet is gradually being converted to it from gasoline.

History

Porto Alegre began as a large farm whose surroundings were inhabited by Indians from several different tribes. A small village formed in the area in 1752 by settlers mainly from the Azores, and in 1772 the parish of São Francisco do Porto dos Casais was formed. A year later the bishop changed the parish's name to Nossa Senhora Madre de Deus do Porto Alegre (Our Lady Mother of God of the Happy Port) and the city was selected as the location for the provincial government.

Porto Alegre had become a city of 12,000 inhabitants by 1822, the year the Brazil gained independence. The main port facilities were built between 1845 and 1860. By the end of the century the population had risen to 73,000. The city became known worldwide in 1963 through hosting the World University Games. In 1985 the people of Porto Alegre joined the movement for free elections and one of the largest demonstrations took place in the city.

Demographics

According to the IBGE of 2008, there were 4,026,000 people residing in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre. The population density was 2,905.3 inhabitants per square kilometre (7,525/sq mi) (in the urban area). The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following percentage: 3,218,000 White people (79.94%), 477,000 Brown (Multiracial) people (11.84%), 300,000 Black people (7.45%), 19,000 Amerindian people (0.48%), 8,000 Asian people (0.20%).

Porto Alegre is mostly composed of Brazilians of European descent. Its colonization started in the mid-18th century, mostly with the arrival of Portuguese colonists from the Azores Islands. From 1748 to 1756, 2,300 Azoreans were sent to the region by the King of Portugal to protect Southern Brazil from neighboring invaders.

These colonists, mostly composed of married couples, established the city of Porto dos Casais (literally translated "harbor of the couples"), nowadays Porto Alegre. In 1775, 55% of Rio Grande do Sul's population was of Azorean Portuguese origin.

Porto Alegre was composed mainly of Azoreans and their African slaves until the first half of the 19th century. The first non-Portuguese people to settle Rio Grande do Sul were German immigrants. In 1824, the first immigrants from Germany arrived in Porto Alegre, but they were sent to what is now the city of São Leopoldo (28 km (17 mi) away). From 1824 to 1914, 50 thousand Germans arrived in Rio Grande do Sul.

Most of these colonists had rural communities in the interior of the State as their first destination. The large rural exodus in Brazil in the early 20th century brought many German-descendants to Porto Alegre and, nowadays, they compose a large percentage of the population.

The second largest group of immigrants who arrived in Porto Alegre were the Italians. They started immigrating to Brazil in 1875, mainly from the Northern Italian Veneto region. As the Germans, Italians were also first sent to rural communities, mainly in the Serra Gaúcha region. After some decades, many of them started to migrate to other parts of Rio Grande do Sul, including Porto Alegre.

Minority communities of immigrants, such as Eastern Europeans from Poland and Ukraine; Arabs from Lebanon and Syria; Asians from Japan and Jews also made Porto Alegre their home.

Population growth

Changing demographics of the city of Porto Alegre

Source: Planet Barsa Ltda.

Religion

Source: IBGE 2000.

Economy

Located at the junction of five rivers, it has become an important alluvial port as well as one of the chief industrial and commercial centers in Brazil. With the advent of the Mercosul accord it should grow and prosper. Products of the rich agricultural and pastoral hinterland, such as soybeans, leather, canned beef, and rice, are exported from Porto Alegre to destinations as far away as Africa and Japan.

According to SENAES (National Office of Solidarity Economy), it is considered a solidarity economy, the ensemble of economic activities with the following characteristics: cooperation, self-management, economic feasibility and solidarity. In 2005, the office identified 14,954 solidary enterprises in Brazil, among which 85 are located in Porto Alegre.

Among the main business located in Porto Alegre are Gerdau, Petroleo Ipiranga, Zaffari and RBS. Since 2000, General Motors (GM) is operating in Gravataí - located in the Metropolitan Region. Also in this Region but in Triunfo, there is a Petrochemical Pole, and in Eldorado do Sul Dell Computers has established a plant. In the health sector, there are two hospitals considered among the best in Latin America (Santa Casa de Misericordia Hospital and Clinicas Hospital). Commerce is a very important economic activity, with many malls (like Rua da Praia and Shopping Iguatemi). The Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, directed to the production of shoes (around Novo Hamburgo) and to petrochemical industries, as well as services.

In the city is located the Electronics Technology Center (CEITEC), focused on the development and production of application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), today announced the opening of Latin America's first IC design center. To create state-of-the-art semiconductor products for high-volume markets that will be consumed in Latin America as well as exported to global markets.

CEITEC S.A will accelerate the growth of Latin America's electronics industry by leveraging Brazil's regional influence, leadership and economic strength. The company will add 60 engineers to its ranks who will design RFID, digital media and wireless communication chips for its fabrication facility now ramping up for production. The total investment by the Brazilian government is almost US$ 210 million. The company is implementing a fab-lite strategy with the ability to manufacture analog/digital chips at its facility in Porto Alegre. The in-house design center with more than 100 engineers.

Its rural hinterland yields a variety of agricultural and pastoral products, including meat and hides, wool, rice, beans, cashews, avocados, wheat, grapes, and tobacco. From the forests comes lumber. The city's industries are chiefly concerned with processing these products and include meat-packing, lard refining, leather tanning, shipbuilding, and the manufacturing of textiles, metallurgic goods, electrical and communications equipment, plastics, pharmaceuticals, perfume, beer, and chemicals. There are also steel mills, an oil terminal, and a petrochemical complex. Power comes from coal mined at nearby São Jerônimo and from a hydroelectric plant at Salto. The city has many business and financial institutions and is also an educational centre.

The GDP for the city was R$ 30,116,002,000 (2006).

The per capita income for the city was R$ 20,900 (2006).

Participatory budgeting

The first full participatory budgeting process was developed in the city starting in 1989. Participatory budgeting was part of a number of innovative reform programs to overcome severe inequality in living standards amongst city residents. One third of the city's residents lived in isolated slums at the city outskirts, lacking access to public amenities (water, sanitation, health care facilities, and schools).

Participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre occurs annually, starting with a series of neighborhood, regional, and citywide assemblies, where residents and elected budget delegates identify spending priorities and vote on which priorities to implement. Porto Alegre spends about 200 million dollars per year on construction and services, this money is subject to participatory budgeting. Annual spending on fixed expenses such as debt service and pensions, is not subject to public participation. Around fifty thousand residents of Porto Alegre now take part in the participatory budgeting process (compared to 1.5 million city inhabitants), with the number of participants growing year on year since 1989. Participants are from diverse economic and political backgrounds.

The participatory budgeting cycle starts in January and assemblies across the city to facilitate maximum participation and interaction. Each February there is instruction from city specialists in technical and systemic aspects of city budgeting. In March there are plenary assemblies in each of the city's 16 districts as well as assemblies dealing with such areas as transportation, health, education, sports, and economic development.

These large meetings, with participation that can reach over 1,000, elect delegates to represent specific neighborhoods. The mayor and staff attend to respond to citizen concerns. In the following month's delegates meet weekly or biweekly in each district to review technical project criteria and district needs.

City department staff may participate according to their area of expertise. At a second regional plenary, regional delegates prioritize the district's demands and elect 42 councillors representing all districts and thematic areas to serve on the Municipal Council of the Budget. The main function of the Municipal Council of the Budget is to reconcile the demands of each district with available resources, and to propose and approve an overall municipal budget. The resulting budget is binding, though the city council can suggest, but not require changes. Only the Mayor may veto the budget, or remand it back to the Municipal Council of the Budget (this has never happened).

A World Bank paper suggests that participatory budgeting has led to direct improvements in facilities in Porto Alegre. For example, sewer and water connections increased from 75% of households in 1988 to 98% in 1997. The number of schools quadrupled since 1986.

The high number of participants, after more than a decade, suggests that participatory budgeting encourages increasing citizen involvement, according to the paper. Also, Porto Alegre's health and education budget increased from 13% (1985) to almost 40% (1996), and the share of the participatory budget in the total budget increased from 17% (1992) to 21% (1999).

Alternative programs

Energy

About 98 percent of the Porto Alegre's residents are connected to the power grid. The vast majority of the city's power comes from hydroelectric sources, at 94 percent of grid output. In Brazil, there are also a few coal-fired plants, fuel-oil fired plants and one nuclear facility. Increased utilization of natural gas and other sources is planned in order to reduce Brazil's overdependence on hydroelectric power. In 1999, a natural gas pipeline from Bolivia to Brazil was completed, with its terminus in Porto Alegre. Brazilian investment group Central Termoeletrica Sul (CTSul) has plans to invest US$698 million in a 650MW coal-fired power generation plant in Cachoeira do Sul, located in Rio Grande do Sul.

The largest wind energy park in Brazil, which is being built east of Porto Alegre in Osório, will add 150 megawatts (MW) to the Brazilian energy matrix. The production represents 5 percent of the energy consumed in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and would be sufficient to meet two-thirds of Porto Alegre's energy demands. The forecast is that energy generation will begin at the beginning of 2007. The project is part of the Alternative Energy Sources Program (Proinfa) from state-owned Eletrobrás, which will purchase the energy produced for the next 20 years.

Recycling

Porto Alegre was one of the first cities in Brazil to develop a recycling program and has been acknowledged as having the best management practices in the country. Since 1990, household waste already separated by residents has been collected in all neighbourhoods on a weekly basis. The city produces about 900 tonnes of household waste per day. Waste is sorted in recycling units, which are large sheds containing crates for the unsorted waste and benches for manual sorting. Once sorted, the waste is compressed and baled up to be sold as raw material to recycling factories. The units are managed by autonomous cooperatives with directors elected every two years. Organic waste is used to generate thermal energy and to make compost. Since 1997, all non-recyclable waste has been disposed of in landfill sites. Infiltration into the soil is prevented by the double-walled construction of a clay layer and a high-density polythene geo-membrane, the lowering of the water table and the draining off and treatment of any effluent.

Fish

The community of Belém Novo is benefiting from a municipal, citywide project to recover the Guaíba Lake and its margins. Discussions with local fishermen led to the inclusion of a pier and two storage and cleaning facilities for the fishermen to use. The group also approved the creation of a multipurpose cooperative, called "Coopeixe", to organize the fishing community. Fish is sold at markets, to restaurants and directly to consumers.

Others

Telecentre. Is used by 10,000 citizens yearly, the goal is to close the digital divide and promote connectivity and social inclusion. Housing Cooperatives. Over 75 housing cooperatives are now operating in the city, with 11,000 housing units built in the last 14 years.

Tourism and recreation

The seat of State Government, its construction begun in 1896 after a project by Affonso Hebert, but soon the plan was changed and another project was designed by Maurice Gras, which was erected from 1909 on, and completed only towards the 70's. It shows a blend of baroque and neoclassical features inspired after the french palace Petit Trianon, with rich inner decorations and furniture, and a big garden behind the main building.

Central Public Market

Central Public Market is a neoclassical building opened in 1869. From 1995 to 1996 it underwent a major restoration process, which modified its original structure. With over 100 shops and stores, there is great variety of options: restaurants, fruit and fish stores, and a famous ice cream parlor.

Matrix Square

The "Praça da Matriz" is a very special point located at the very heart of Historical Downtown Porto Alegre, close to many other historical places of outmost importance, being immediately surrounded by the Piratiny Palace, the House of Justice, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Saint Peter Theatre (Theatro São Pedro). Also, it is farly close to the Açores Bridge, the Açores Monument, the Mario Quintana Culture House, and the Solar Palmeiro, all located in downtown.

Mario Quintana Culture House

It is located in downtown Porto Alegre, near many other historical places. Bacause of its beautiful historical architecture (an old high-profile hotel, Majestic), and its many cultural events, it is a very pleasant place where the porto-alegrenses meet and confraternize.

Paleontological Tourism

Although Porto Alegre is not in the geopark of Paleorrota, it has the largest number of paleontologists of Rio Grande do Sul. The city has a large number of museums, and the UFRGS as a center for the study of paleontology and there can see the animals of Triassic. We can see Rhynchosaur, thecodonts, exaeretodons, Staurikosaurus, Guaibasaurus, Saturnalia tupiniquim, Sacisaurus, Unaysaurus and many others.

Farroupilha Park (Redemption Park)

Also known as "Parque da Redenção", it is located between the Bom Fim and Cidade Baixa Neighborhoods, close to downtown. Its 370 thousand sq. meters of extension hosts 45 copper and marble monuments, a luminous fountain and the "O Expedicionário" (The Expeditionary One) monument, representing a double Triumph Arch with relief sculptures which are a homage to Brazilian soldiers who fought in Italy during the World War II. It also hosts a mini-zoo, an amusement park for children, a solar retreat, a market, football and bowling fields, cycleways, athletic sports track, gymnastics equipment, and an auditorium for 4,500 people. At Sundays, massive amounts of porto-alegrenses go to the park to socialize, play sports, relax and drink Mate (beverage), there happens the very famous flea market "Brique da Redenção" from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, where one can buy antiques, handicrafted goods, art, and food items, basically.

Maurício Sirotsky Sobrinho Park (Harmony Park)

Known by locals as the "Parque da Harmonia", it is located at Cidade Baixa District, occupying 300 thousand sq. meters, hosting in its area a replica of a traditional gaucho farm, the Harmonia Ranch, designed to maintain and practice the regional culture. It also has an aero modelling track, a nautical modelling tank, playground, football and bowling fields, volleyball courts, and over 100 barbecue grills available in different areas of the park.

Botanical Gardens

With an area of approximately 43 hectares, the Porto Alegre Botanical Gardens are in the neighborhood named after it, between Cristiano Fischer Avenue and Salvador França Avenue. It harbours scientific collections with over two thousand issues, 725 plant species, spread over the different open areas of the park. It also has a Germplasm Bank, a Seed Bank and a Sapling Terrarium, in addition to developing environmental educational activities. The Natural Sciences Museum is headquartered at the Gardes and preserves flora and fauna species from the State Natural Heritage.

Saint Hilaire Park

Located on RS-040 highway, at about km 02, this park is 17 km (10 mi) away from Downtown Porto Alegre. It occupies 11.8 km² (4.5 mi²), 240 hectares of which are designed for leisure and 940 hectares reserved for permanent conservation. Its name is a homage to scientist Augustin François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire, an internationally renowned French traveller and naturalist who lived in Brazil for many years. The park infrastructure has football fields, bowling fields, volleyball courts and indoor football fields, aero modelling and skating tracks, a playground and approximately 100 barbecue grills.

Lami Biological Reserve

The city has a Biological Reserve 170 hectares long within its territorial limits. Lami Biological Reserve shelters a meteorological station and a terrarium of native saplings. The diverse atmospheres enable growing over 300 vegetal species and a higher number of animal species; the swamps and reeds are home to many aquatic livings.

Rural Area

The rural area is also a chief attraction in this place and turns Porto Alegre into an ideal holiday destination, especially in the south area. A opportunity to forget about the stress of the bustling city life at least for some days and get back to nature, to enjoy the flavours, smells, sounds and colours with the five senses. Picking fruits to eat them later, wandering along the countryside or visiting the conservation areas are some of the activities that can be enjoyed in these rural routes.

Usina do Gasômetro

This is an old powerplant built in 1928 which was refurnished recently and now hosts movie theaters and art expositions. During the sunset, lots of people get together in front of the Usina to watch the sun diving into Rio Guaíba (Guaíba Lake).

Moinhos de Vento Park

Known by locals as Parcão (Big Park), this is a pleasant park with a neat lake and jogging paths.

Nightlife

Porto Alegre is well known in Brazil for its diverse nightlife. The city's clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants provide entertainment for a wide range of tastes and budgets, going from the cheap, traditional beer-'n-bite in a corner bar to all-night raves, and classy nightclubs. The nightlife here is similar to that of New York City, but on a micro-scale. In the "SoHo" area of Porto Alegre, there is a block full of great bars, restaurants and clubs.

Bars, some with live music and most with a predominantly young and trendy clientele, are spread out along, and just off, alongside the Parque Farroupilha and near the Federal University. Favourites change constantly, but the Doce Vicio, and, for dancing, the Ocidente, are usually lively. Be warned, though, that things don't get going until around llpm. Throughout the year, Porto Alegre's numerous Centros de Tradição Gaúcha organize traditional meals, music and dance performances. Tourist offices have only limited information on the events, but full details are available from the Movimento Tradicionalista Gaúcho.

Porto Alegre boasts a good popular music scene and a considerable theatrical tradition. Foreign performers of all kinds usually include Porto Alegre on any Brazilian or wider South American tour. The Sala Jazz Tom Jobim, features the city's best jazz, or there are live afternoon jazz sessions at the Café Concerto within the Casa de Cultura), which also has a good arthouse cinema. There are three more screens at the Espaço Unibanco (Unibanco Cultural Space), another art house cinema. Finally, the Centro Cultural Usina do Gasômetro, a converted 1920s power station on the banks of the river just west of the centre, is well worth a visit; there's always something going on in its cinema, theatre and galleries, and it also has a cafe and a good bookshop.

In Cidade Baixa neighborhood, the historical street João Alfredo has many excellent options. Discotheques include Dado Bier, Beco, Opinião and Nega Frida. The corner between Gal Lima e Silva Street and República Street is the center of the neighborhood's nightlife. In the weekends, it's streets gets crowded of people drinking and having a good time. Cavanhas, Pingüim, Copão, Cotiporã and Panorama are some of the bars where people can drink beer and grab some french fries. To dance MPB (Brazilian popular music), historical street João Alfredo has many excellent options. Small bars on "Republica" street are great.

In Calçada da Fama, the Padre Chagas Street is full of more fashionable bars, like Lilliput and Dado Pub. Goethe Avenue has a concentration of bars (Tri Bar, Arsenal, Dolphin's), great hotdog called "Bagé Dog" and dance clubs, like "Verde". Rua Fernando Gomes has a nice concentration of pubs, cafes, bars. Avenida Osvaldo Aranha, alongside the Parque Farroupilha and near the Federal University has Bars with a predominantly young and trendy clientele. Moinhos de Vento is one of the richiest neighborhoods in the city. Its bars and clubs are more likely to be fashionable. Expect the bars to be pricey. Along Padre Chagas Street people can find typical Irish pubs and cafes.

A fictionalized view of the Porto Alegre nightlife could be seen in the Érico Verissimo's novel Noite.

Education

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum. There are also international schools, such as the Pan American School of Porto Alegre.

Educational institutions

• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS);
• Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul (UERGS);
• Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS);
• Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA);
• Faculdades Riograndenses (FARGS);
• Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing (ESPM-RS);
• Faculdade Porto-Alegrense de Educação (FAPA);
• Universidade SEBRAE de Negocios (USEN);
• Universidade Ritter dos Reis (UniRitter);
• and many others.

Educational system

It is the Brazilian capital with the highest level of education, 20% of family leaders have a university degree. There are three important universities in Porto Alegre: the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), the Health Sciences Federal University of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) that has been the second position in the national Ranking and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). UFRGS is among the three main universities of the country for post-graduation work. The PUCRS technological park – TECNOPUC – is one of the largest scientific and technological parks in Latin America with interaction of graduate courses, research and innovation. In the Metropolitan Region of the city, there are two other important universities, such as ULBRA and UNISINOS, and many university centers.

Culture

Museums

Rio Grande do Sul Museum of Art – MARGS

With an eclectic style, the building was designed by German architect Theo Wiederspahn. Originally it was the headquarters of the Fiscal Surveillance Agency of the Federal Revenue Office. Nowadays, it hosts the largest public collection of art works in Rio Grande do Sul.

Júlio de Castilhos Museum

Created in 1903, being the oldest museum in the state. Its collection comprises thousands of pieces related to the local history, from Indian relics to objects and iconography about the War of Tatters and the War of the Triple Alliance, including an important section showing fine sculptures from the Jesuitic Reductions.

Joaquim José Felizardo Museum

An important museum with a large collection of archaeological artifacts and fotographies of Porto Alegre's old times. Its historical building, dating from 1845–55, is one of the few intact relics of colonial architecture inside the modern urban environment.

Rio Grande do Sul Memorial

Showing a huge collection of documents, maps, objects, prints and other items related to the state's history. Its building, designed by Theodor Wiederspahn, is one of the finest examples of eclectic architecture in the city.

Mário Quintana House of Culture This House of Culture is located in the place where the Majestic Hotel used to work. One of the country's most important poets among the group of contemporary ones spent most of his life here. Hence, this house became a symbolic building in Porto Alegre. Nowadays, this house is one of the city's major attractions not only because of its eclectic architecture, but also it offers cinemas, exhibition halls, theatre, rehearsal room for dancing and libraries.

Carnival/Carnaval

The Porto Alegre Carnival began in the 18th century with the entrudo, a prank brought over by the Portuguese from the Azores, whereby people threw flour, water, and "limão de cheiro" missiles at each other. At the end of the 19th century, two important Carnival associations were born. Rivalry between the two long dominated the city's Carnival. The corso, a parade of floats down Porto Alegre's streets, was a celebration enjoyed by the more well-to-do of the city's inhabitants.

One of the most important Carnival personalities is King Momo. At the beginning of Carnival, usually in February, he receives the keys to the city from the Mayor of Porto Alegre, symbolically governing the Carnival during the four days of revelry. Vincente Rao was the most popular King Momo.

Cuisine

One of the most famous foods of Brazil, churrasco (slow-grilled and -roasted meat), originated in Rio Grande do Sul. But cuisine is eclectic here, and rice and beans sit on southern tables beside Italian and German dishes, thanks to the South's many European immigrants. Colonial coffee is the elaborate 5 PM tea, with breads, pies, and German kuchen, popular among the Germans in the South.

The traditional beverage is the "erva mate". The Chalet of the XV de Novembro Plaza is located along the Glênio Peres Square, it is one of the most traditional bar-draught beer-restaurants in the city, where the last "lambe-lambe" photographs of the region work. "Lambe-lambes" are photographers who develop pictures outdoor using the oldest method known. In the Bavarian style, with art nouveau traits, the centenary Chalet was built up on a demountable steel structure, keeping its original chandeliers and tiles even nowadays.

Events

A wide range of cultural events are held in Porto Alegre. In addition to the traditional celebrations, a wide variety of activities are organized at Porto Alegre during the different seasons.

• World Social Forum: At several occasions (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005) the World Social Forum has been hosted in Porto Alegre. This event gathered more than 100,000 people from more than 100 countries each year. The main aim of these meetings is to discuss and deal with social issues.
• Porto Verão Alegre: during the summer, for example, the "Porto Verão Alegre" or (Porto Summer Alegre) takes place in this city. This celebration consists of a number of performances and exhibitions. In 2005 about seventy plays could be enjoyed.
• Farroupilha Week: this cultural celebration takes place in mid September with parades, food and musical exhibitions. The "Acampamento Farroupilha" takes place in Harmonia Park, where thousands of people set up their tents and eat typical food to commemorate the Farroupilha Revolution.
• Bookfair: Held each November at Alfândega Square. In October Porto Alegre holds the greatest Book Fair in American continent, an event that has been taking place since 1955. Each year about 2,000,000 people attend this fair.
• Handicraft Fair: the "Brique da Redenção" is a handicraft fair where a wide variety of antiques can be found. Each Sunday this fair takes place in the well known Farroupilha Park or "Redenção" Park. Crafty pieces and antiques are exhibited in shows. Clowns and acrobats attend this fair as well.
• Worldwide Pinhole Photography: this is an international event created to promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography. The event is held each year on the last Sunday in April.
• Mercosur Biennial Exhibition: is held in Porto Alegre every two years between October and December. This is an important art and cultural event that attracts a large number of people as well.
• Carnival: As other Brazilian cities, Porto Alegre holds extensive festivities during the period immediately preceding Lent. Among them, there is a Escola de Samba contest, featuring Academia de Samba Puro, Acadêmicos da Orgia, Bambas da Orgia, Estado Maior da Restinga, Fidalgos e Aristocratas, Império da Zona Norte, Impeadores do Samba, among others.

• Concerts:Porto Alegre is considered the second best Brazilian city for international events and major concerts, beating Rio de Janeiro because of safety concerns and just behind São Paulo, despite its smaller size Porto Alegre possess great preparation for large events. That's why since 2008 has been visited by more international artists such as James Cullum, Akon, James Blunt, Avril Lavigne, Beyoncé and in 2010 was due to perform in the city, but another event took place, making the singer presents himself in a capital stood up, Florianópolis.

Transportation

International Airport

Salgado Filho International Airport serves flights operated by major Brazilian airlines to many areas in Brazil and other South American countries. Salgado Filho International Airport also has an air cargo terminal, built in 1974, with 9,500 thousand square meters of area and capacity to handle 1,500 tons of export cargo and 900 tons of imports each month. The average daily movement (arrivals and departures) is 174 aircraft, flying scheduled routes connecting Porto Alegre directly or indirectly to all the country's other major cities, as well as smaller cities in the interior of the states of the South Region and São Paulo. There are also international flights with direct connections to cities of the Southern Cone.

With 37.6 thousand square meters of constructed area and four levels, the passenger terminal at Porto Alegre International Airport can receive 28 large airplanes simultaneously. The terminal has 32 check-in counters, ten boarding bridges, nine elevators and ten escalators. It has a totally automated aircraft movement control center and the main spaces are air conditioned. The apron, surfaced with prestressed concrete, can serve jumbo jets like the Boeing 747-400. The garage structure has eight levels, 44 thousand square meters and 1,440 parking spaces. Another terminal, with 15 thousand square meters and capacity for 1.5 million passengers a year, serves general, executive and third-tier aviation (conventional piston-engine and turboprop planes).

The Aeroshopping area, a center for commerce and leisure, operates 24 hours a day with shops, services, a food court, along with a triplex cinema, the first to be established at a Brazilian airport. The main airlines that operate in Salgado Filho International Airport are: Aerolíneas Argentinas, Azul, Gol, Ocean Air, TACA Peru, TAM and Varig.

Port

The Port of Porto Alegre is situated in the Eastern margin of Guaíba Lake. The port lying on the eastern bank of the Guaíba lake at the point where its waters empty into the huge Lagoa dos Patos is one of Brazil's largest port. Located near the main access roads to Porto Alegre, is 4 km (2.4 mi) away from the Salgado Filho International Airport and has access to the railway station, through the docks of Mauá and Navegantes. Its geographical position enables a permanent traffic between Porto Alegre and Buenos Aires, transporting steel-industry products and mainly agricultural produce.

Metro

The metro is operated jointly by the federal government, the state government of Rio Grande do Sul and the city of Porto Alegre through the company Trensurb (Company of Urban Trains of Porto Alegre) and has 17 stations, totaling 42 kilometres (26 mi) of extension, carrying about 130,000 users a day. The Line 1 of the subway built in Porto Alegre was started in 1980, linking the center of Porto Alegre to cities to the north of the metropolitan area, as Canoas, Esteio, Sapucaia do Sul, São Leopoldo and Novo Hamburgo. The choice of path was made to relieve the heavy traffic of highway BR-116, only option before the construction of this line, which already had serious problems with the transit at the time. The Line 1 was inaugurated on March 2, 1985 between the Central Public Market and Sapucaia do Sul. In December 1997 was extended to Unisinos. An extension of 2.4 miles São Leopoldo-Museum was added in November 2000, after two months of trial service.

The Second Urban Transport (Porto Alegre) Project the construction of a surface suburban rail mass transit system with about 25 electric unit trains between the central business area of the city of Porto Alegre and the town of Sapucaia, 26.7 kilometres (16.6 mi) to the north. The system will have 14 stations spaced approximately every 2 kilometres (1.2 mi), and will have a capacity of 48,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The benefits of the project will mainly accrue to the urban poor, many of whom live on the periphery of the metropolitan area, providing them with more rapid access to employment centers and improving the urban environment in which they live. The project will save on vehicle operating costs including fuel, reduce travel time, and reduce air and noise pollution by achieving a more efficient modal distribution of traffic and use of all transport facilities in the area of influence of the railway. It will contribute to the development of selected employment growth poles along the north-south corridor. The project involves the establishment of the company, TRENSURB, which was recently created to own and operate the system on a commercial basis without government operating subsidies.

Highways

There are only two highways in the city, both running close to the northern and northwestern border of the city. This is so because there are no major destinations southeast or south of Porto Alegre (considering the landmass east of Lagoa dos Patos). One of them is BR-290, which runs east-west across the state, linking the northeast coast of the state to the Uruguay-Argentina-Brazil border. It runs close to the northern border of the municipality. The other one is BR-116, which runs northeast-south across the state, linking Porto Alegre to several satellite cities and other Brazilian capitals to the north, and Uruguay to the south. Within the municipality, it only touches the northwest side of the city, close to the end of Rio Gravataí (Gravataí River). The connection between downtown Porto Alegre and the aforementioned highways is made by Avenida Presidente Castelo Branco (President Castelo Branco Avenue), which is a rather short - 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) - avenue also bordering the northwest side of the city.

Since 1999, the largest road work ever, the Terceira Perimetral (Third Perimetral) has been under construction throughout the city. The Terceira Perimetral is 12 km (7.4 mi) long, connecting both north and south regions of the city.

Another way to get to Porto Alegre from the north is using BR-101 to Osório. BR-101 connects Curitiba, Florianópolis and Osório, and is currently being upgraded to highway standards. Porto Alegre's Bus station is located downtown, and is served by several national and international lines (UNESUL, TTL, EGA, PLUMA, FLECHABUS, CHILEBUS). It is also connected to a Trensurb station (Porto Alegre Metro) and several municipal bus lines. Northbound passengers can rely on good bus connections throughout Brazil. However, an express bus might be recommended if traveling to Uruguay or Argentina in order to avoid several stops while enroute.

Bus

This city has a nice transportation system, especially the autobuses. One of the bus companies is named Carris, what is considered the best autobus company in Brazil. The city has also mini-buses from and to all the main neighborhoods in the city, very comfortable and just a few more boxes than the regular bus, and in the mini-buses people will be always seated as it's forbidden to transport passengers standing. Linha Turística (Tourist Line) is a bus that leaves from Usina do Gasômetro tourist terminal around six times per day. During 90 minutes, it traverses the various districts of Porto Alegre. For a modest price of R$ 5. The "lotação" is an alternative system, with fewer lines, smaller cars (up to 20 people), where one can hop on and off at any point (i.e. outside designated stops) of the trip. The fare is usually more expensive. Exclusive bus lanes in the median of seven radial corridors that converge on the city center are used by both urban and regional lines. The bus fleet totals 1,600, with 150 minibuses. About 325 million people use the system annually.

Those lines have no prefix. It is quite common to switch buses at downtown but, considering there is a myriad of lines there, it can be challenging to find the right terminal to hop on the next bus. Transversal lines prefix "T" (T1, T2, ..., T11), connect different neighborhood without going through the downtown area, effectively eliminating the need of changing buses for the most common trips. Circular lines prefix "C" (C1, C2, C3), as the name indicates, run in a circular manner, usually connecting parts of the downtown area to the nearest neighborhoods. Mayor José Fogaça renewed his agreement with EMBARQ and the Center for Sustainable Transport Brazil (CTS-Brasil) to improve accessibility and mobility in downtown Porto Alegre. The agreement, signed on March 11, includes a new partnership with the Andean Development Corporation, a Latin American multilateral financial institution that is expected to provide $1 million in non-reimbursable technical assistance this year to help Porto Alegre complete the preparation phase of the "Portais da Cidade" bus rapid transit project, a groundbreaking transport system designed to reduce pollution and congestion downtown. The system will include a southern extension to accommodate activities for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. CAF's technical assistance will be administered through CTS-Brasil, which has been working to expand sustainable transport in Porto Alegre since 2005.

Taxi

There are plenty of taxis. They can be pricey, if compared to other towns, but they are also an easier, safer and more dependable option than buses in some cases. To ride a cab, one can walk to the nearest "taxi stop" (usually in crowded areas or points of interest), wave for an empty passing cab or call a tele-táxi service. Tele-táxi may charge extra for this service.

The price of the fare is determined by a machine called taxímetro, usually in front of the passenger seat. There is always a minimum price, which is shown when the machine is reset for the trip. Next to the value, there is a "flag" indicator that shows the level of price being paid, always according to the service. Usually there is a table inside of the cab explaining each level of service. It is recommended to check if the correct level is being charged in the beginning of the trip.

Sports

Football is a passion of the people from Porto Alegre. There is a big rivalry between two football clubs, Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, founded in 1903, and Sport Club Internacional, founded in 1909. Both teams belong to the national elite and have also won South American top honours by winning the Copa Libertadores, and the highest global trophy for football clubs, the Intercontinental Cup, respectively its successor, the Club World Cup.

Porto Alegre is assumed to become one of the host cities of the World Cup 2014, for which Brazil is the host nation. Despite not having CBF and FIFA's official confirmation, Globo Esporte site believes that five cities are practically confirmed as host cities: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre and Brasília. The modernization of the Beira-Rio Stadium, home of SC Internacional, at this stage having a capacity for 58,000 spectators, is currently in progress with a view of becoming the cities World Cup venue.

Local rivals Grêmio play in their own stadium, the Estádio Olímpico Monumental which can host a crowd of up to 45,000 people. The club is currently building a brand new stadium at the Humaitá district within FIFA/UEFA standards. The stadium will host up to 55,000 people plus bringing development to the north part of the city, nowadays somewhat underrated.

• Beira-Rio Stadium, home of SC Internacional
• Olímpico Monumental, home of grêmio FB Porto-Alegrense

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods of Porto Alegre are geographical divisions of the city. There is no devolution of administrative powers to neighborhoods, although there are several neighborhoods associations devoted to improve their own standards of living. Porto Alegre has nowadays 78 official distinguished neighborhoods and 4 territories.

Notable people

• Adriana Calcanhotto, musician
• Ronaldinho, Brazilian footballer

Sister cities

Porto Alegre's sister cities are:

Austin, United States (2002) Horta, Portugal (1993) Kanazawa, Japan (1967) Kuching, Malaysia (2008) La Plata, Argentina (1982) Morano Calabro, Italy (1982) Natal, Brazil (1992) Newark, United States (2006)

Paris, France (2001) Portalegre, Portugal (2000) Punta del Este, Uruguay (1984) Ribeira Grande, Portugal (1982) Rosario, Argentina (1994) Saint Petersburg, Russia (2000) Salihli, Turkey (2010) Suzhou, China (2004)

fagicon}HAMILTON,ON See also List of Hills of Porto Alegre History of Porto Alegre Pictures of Porto Alegre References "Location of Porto Alegre". Iguide.travel. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Vegetation in the city". Scielo.br. 1990-01-06. doi:10.1590/S0103-84782001000500020. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "History of Porto Alegre". Recantodasletras.uol.com.br. 2007-03-22. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Porto Alegre's Rank". .portoalegre.rs.gov.br. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Porto Alegre City - Names". Carnaval.com. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Literacy rate of Porto Alegre". .portoalegre.rs.gov.br. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Life - Porto Alegre". Reservas.net. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "BBC Weather: Average Conditions for Porto Alegre". "Vegetation in Porto Alegre". Reservas.net. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Green areas in Porto Alegre". Sustainablecities.net. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Water system in Porto Alegre". Sustainablecities.net. Retrieved 2010-10-21. "Integrated Socioenvironmental Program of Porto Alegre". Zimbio.com. 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Rio de Janeiro (RJ) São Paulo (SP) Vitória (ES) South Curitiba (PR) Florianópolis (SC) Porto Alegre (RS) Template:BrazilLargestCities v t e Municipalities of Rio Grande do Sul Capital: Porto Alegre Mesoregion Centro Ocidental Rio-Grandense Restinga Seca Agudo Dona Francisca Faxinal do Soturno Formigueiro Ivorá Nova Palma Restinga Seca São João do Polêsine Silveira Martins Santa Maria Cacequi Dilermando de Aguiar Itaara Jaguari Mata Nova Esperança do Sul Santa Maria São Martinho da Serra São Pedro do Sul São Sepé São Vicente do Sul Toropi Vila Nova do Sul Santiago Capão do Cipó Itacurubi Jari Júlio de Castilhos Pinhal Grande Quevedos Santiago Tupanciretã Unistalda Mesoregion Centro Oriental Rio-Grandense Cachoeira do Sul Cachoeira do Sul Cerro Branco Novo Cabrais Pantano Grande Paraíso do Sul Passo do Sobrado Rio Pardo Lajeado-Estrela Arroio do Meio Bom Retiro do Sul Boqueirão do Leão Canudos do Vale Capitão Colinas Coqueiro Baixo Cruzeiro do Sul Doutor Ricardo Encantado Estrela Fazenda Vilanova Forquetinha Imigrante Lajeado Marques de Souza Muçum Nova Bréscia Paverama Pouso Novo Progresso Relvado Roca Sales Santa Clara do Sul Sério Tabaí Taquari Teutônia Travesseiro Vespasiano Correa Westfália Santa Cruz do Sul Arroio do Tigre Candelária Estrela Velha Gramado Xavier Herveiras Ibarama Lagoa Bonita do Sul Mato Leitão Passa Sete Santa Cruz do Sul Segredo Sinimbu Sobradinho Vale do Sol Venâncio Aires Vera Cruz Mesoregion Metropolitana de Porto Alegre Camaquã Arambaré Barra do Ribeiro Camaquã Cerro Grande do Sul Chuvisca Dom Feliciano Sentinela do Sul Tapes Gramado-Canela Canela Dois Irmãos Gramado Igrejinha Ivoti Lindolfo Collor Morro Reuter Nova Petrópolis Picada Café Presidente Lucena Riozinho Rolante Santa Maria do Herval Taquara Três Coroas Montenegro Alto Feliz Barão Bom Princípio Brochier Capela de Santana Feliz Harmonia Linha Nova Maratá Montenegro Pareci Novo Poço das Antas Portão Salvador do Sul São José do Hortêncio São José do Sul São Pedro da Serra São Sebastião do Caí São Vendelino Tupandi Vale Real Osório Arroio do Sal Balneário Pinhal Capão da Canoa Capivari do Sul Caraá Cidreira Dom Pedro de Alcântara Imbé Itati Mampituba Maquiné Morrinhos do Sul Mostardas Osório Palmares do Sul Santo Antônio da Patrulha Tavares Terra de Areia Torres Tramandaí Três Cachoeiras Três Forquilhas Xangri-lá Porto Alegre Alvorada Araricá Cachoeirinha Campo Bom Canoas Eldorado do Sul Estância Velha Esteio Glorinha Gravataí Guaíba Mariana Pimentel Nova Hartz Nova Santa Rita Novo Hamburgo Parobé Porto Alegre São Leopoldo Sapiranga Sapucaia do Sul Sertão Santana Viamão São Jerônimo Arroio dos Ratos Barão do Triunfo Butiá Charqueadas General Câmara Minas do Leão São Jerônimo Triunfo Vale Verde Mesoregion Nordeste Rio-Grandense Caxias do Sul Antônio Prado Bento Gonçalves Boa Vista do Sul Carlos Barbosa Caxias do Sul Coronel Pilar Cotiporã Fagundes Varela Farroupilha Flores da Cunha Garibaldi Monte Belo do Sul Nova Pádua Nova Roma do Sul Pinto Bandeira Santa Tereza São Marcos Veranópolis Vila Flores Guaporé André da Rocha Anta Gorda Arvorezinha Dois Lajeados Guabiju Guaporé Ilópolis Itapuca Montauri Nova Alvorada Nova Araçá Nova Bassano Nova Prata Paraí Protásio Alves Putinga São Jorge São Valentim do Sul Serafina Corrêa União da Serra Vista Alegre do Prata Vacaria Bom Jesus Cambará do Sul Campestre da Serra Capão Bonito do Sul Esmeralda Ipê Jaquirana Lagoa Vermelha Monte Alegre dos Campos Muitos Capões Pinhal da Serra São Francisco de Paula São José dos Ausentes Vacaria Mesoregion Noroeste Rio-Grandense Carazinho Almirante Tamandaré do Sul Barra Funda Boa Vista das Missões Carazinho Cerro Grande Chapada Coqueiros do Sul Jaboticaba Lajeado do Bugre Nova Boa Vista Novo Barreiro Palmeira das Missões Pinhal Sagrada Família Santo Antônio do Planalto São José das Missões São Pedro das Missões Sarandi Cerro Largo Caibaté Campina das Missões Cerro Largo Guarani das Missões Mato Queimado Porto Xavier Roque Gonzales Salvador das Missões São Paulo das Missões São Pedro do Butiá Sete de Setembro Cruz Alta Alto Alegre Boa Vista do Cadeado Boa Vista do Incra Campos Borges Cruz Alta Espumoso Fortaleza dos Valos Ibirubá Jacuizinho Jóia Quinze de Novembro Saldanha Marinho Salto do Jacuí Santa Bárbara do Sul Erechim Aratiba Áurea Barão de Cotegipe Barra do Rio Azul Benjamin Constant do Sul Campinas do Sul Carlos Gomes Centenário Cruzaltense Entre Rios do Sul Erebango Erechim Erval Grande Estação Faxinalzinho Floriano Peixoto Gaurama Getúlio Vargas Ipiranga do Sul Itatiba do Sul Jacutinga Marcelino Ramos Mariano Moro Paulo Bento Ponte Preta Quatro Irmãos São Valentim Severiano de Almeida Três Arroios Viadutos Frederico Westphalen Alpestre Ametista do Sul Caiçara Constantina Cristal do Sul Dois Irmãos das Missões Engenho Velho Erval Seco Frederico Westphalen Gramado dos Loureiros Iraí Liberato Salzano Nonoai Novo Tiradentes Novo Xingu Palmitinho Pinheirinho do Vale Planalto Rio dos Índios Rodeio Bonito Rondinha Seberi Taquaruçu do Sul Três Palmeiras Trindade do Sul Vicente Dutra Vista Alegre Ijuí Ajuricaba Alegria Augusto Pestana Bozano Chiapeta Condor Coronel Barros Coronel Bicaco Ijuí Inhacorá Nova Ramada Panambi Pejuçara Santo Augusto São Valério do Sul Nao-Me-Toque Colorado Lagoa dos Três Cantos Não-Me-Toque Selbach Tapera Tio Hugo Victor Graeff Passo Fundo Água Santa Camargo Casca Caseiros Charrua Ciríaco Coxilha David Canabarro Ernestina Gentil Ibiraiaras Marau Mato Castelhano Muliterno Nicolau Vergueiro Passo Fundo Pontão Ronda Alta Santa Cecília do Sul Santo Antônio do Palma São Domingos do Sul Sertão Tapejara Vanini Vila Lângaro Vila Maria Sananduva Barracão Cacique Doble Ibiaçá Machadinho Maximiliano de Almeida Paim Filho Sananduva Santo Expedito do Sul São João da Urtiga São José do Ouro Tupanci do Sul Santa Rosa Alecrim Cândido Godói Independência Novo Machado Porto Lucena Porto Mauá Porto Vera Cruz Santa Rosa Santo Cristo São José do Inhacorá Três de Maio Tucunduva Tuparendi Santo Ângelo Bossoroca Catuípe Dezesseis de Novembro Entre-Ijuís Eugênio de Castro Giruá Pirapó Rolador Santo Ângelo Santo Antônio das Missões São Luiz Gonzaga São Miguel das Missões São Nicolau Senador Salgado Filho Ubiretama Vitória das Missões Soledade Barros Cassal Fontoura Xavier Ibirapuitã Lagoão Mormaço São José do Herval Soledade Tunas Três Passos Barra do Guarita Boa Vista do Buricá Bom Progresso Braga Campo Novo Crissiumal Derrubadas Doutor Maurício Cardoso Esperança do Sul Horizontina Humaitá Miraguaí Nova Candelária Redentora São Martinho Sede Nova Tenente Portela Tiradentes do Sul Três Passos Vista Gaúcha Mesoregion Sudeste Rio-Grandense Jaguarão Arroio Grande Herval Jaguarão Litoral Lagunar Chuí Rio Grande Santa Vitória do Palmar São José do Norte Pelotas Arroio do Padre Canguçu Capão do Leão Cerrito Cristal Morro Redondo Pedro Osório Pelotas São Lourenço do Sul Turuçu Serras de Sudeste Amaral Ferrador Caçapava do Sul Candiota Encruzilhada do Sul Pedras Altas Pinheiro Machado Piratini Santana da Boa Vista Mesoregion Sudoeste Rio-Grandense Campanha Central Rosário do Sul Santa Margarida do Sul Santana do Livramento São Gabriel Campanha Meridional Aceguá Bagé Dom Pedrito Hulha Negra Lavras do Sul Campanha Ocidental Alegrete Barra do Quaraí Garruchos Itaqui Maçambara Manoel Viana São Borja São Francisco de Assis Uruguaiana Quaraí Template:Link FA

• Port cities in Brazil
• Porto Alegre
• Rio Grande do Sul
• State capitals in Brazil