49 / 64
Pôrto Alegre
Pôrto Alegre, the largest
city in the south of
Brazil, is the capital of
the state of Rio Grande
do Sul. Immigrants from
the Azores, a group of
P o r t u g u e s e - own e d
islands in the Atlantic
Ocean, founded the city
in 1742. Since the 19th
century the city has received numerous German and Italian immigrants.
Lying as it does at the junction of five rivers, it has become an important
port, as well as one of Brazil’s chief industrial and commercial centers. Pôrto
Alegre exports products from the surrounding agricultural region, including
leather, canned beef, and rice.
Brazil’s Colorful, Crowded Cities 49
The Rio Grande do Sul river runs through Pôrto Alegre.
TEXT-DEPENDENT QUESTIONS
1. What is the largest city in Brazil?
2. Which city became the capital of Brazil in 1960?
3. Which city served as the main port of colonial Brazil from 1500 to 1815?