Governador Valadares is a
Brazilian city in the state of Minas Gerais.
In 2006, its population was 260,405
inhabitants.It is an economical center of the middle Valley of the
Rio Doce, making a significant influence on the east and northeast
of Minas Gerais and local authorities of the state of the Espírito Santo
. Governador Valadares
sits on the bank of the Rio Doce, 324 km from Belo
The main watercourse through the municipality is the Doce River
("Rio Doce" in Portuguese) whose basin
(of 83,500 square kilometers) is composed of 222 municipalities.
Nowadays its waters are very polluted, with little vegetation on
its banks and depleted fish stocks.
Valadares is also a statistical micro-region including 25
municipalities: Alpercata, Campanário, Capitão
Andrade, Coroaci, Divino das Laranjeiras, Engenheiro Caldas, Fernandes Tourinho, Frei Inocêncio, Galiléia, Governador Valadares, Itambacuri, Itanhomi, Jampruca, Marilac, Mathias Lobato, Nacip
Raydan, Nova Módica, Pescador, São Geraldo da Piedade, São Geraldo do Baixio, São José da Safira, São José do
Divino, Sobrália, Tumiritinga, and Virgolândia.
Its population (2006) was estimated by the
IBGE to be 407,815 inhabitants in a total area of 11,
The area around Governador Valadares was explored in colonial
first expedition to reach the Doce River was in 1573, leaving from
Seguro in Bahia. Only in the beginning
of the nineteenth century was its colonization begun when in 1808
the Portuguese government created military divisions in the
In 1823, the D. Manoel barracks was established, on
the left bank of the Doce, exactly at the point at which the river
begins to be partially navigable as far as the sea. By the end of
the nineteenth century, Dom Manuel
the main river port on the Doce, being a meeting place for
muleteers and canoes that took products to the coast. Only after
the beginning of the twentieth century was the occupation of the
territory accelerated, with the construction of the Vitória-Minas
railway in 1902. In 1925 the first electric plant was installed to
serve the residences of the town. It was powered by steam.
Throughout its history Governador Valdares has had several
- 1734 - Arraial de Porto de Dom Manuel
- 1808 - Porto das Canoas
- 1888 - Santo Antônio da Figueira
- 1889 – Distrito De Santo Antônio do Bonsucesso
- 1923 - Figueira
In 1937 the municipality of Figueira do Rio Doce was established,
which then changed its name to Governador Valadares, who was the
governor at the time.
Production and the intense trade in precious stones is the reason
the "Brazil Gem Show" takes place in the local authority every
year: an event that consists of the commerce of precious stones
with Brazilians and foreign visitors
Governador Valadares is the biggest city and commercial center of
the Eastern region of the state of Minas Gerais, having several
cities in his area of influence, such as Teófilo Otoni and
Caratinga. At present, Governador Valadares is growing in
industrial development, due to its strategic position, human
resources and international reputation.
It is a trade and industrial center. Sawmills and food-processing
plants are in the city, and mica
are mined in the area. Governador Valadares is
one of the most famous gem-trading centres in Brazil. Gem minerals
. The Golconda
mine, one of the oldest in the city, attracts the curiosity of
tourists and stone collectors from all over the world.
The city is served by the railroad Vitória-Minas, of the CVRD and
by the highway Rio-Bahia (BR 116). It is also connected with the
capital of the state by the BR 381.
The city is on the Belo Horizonte–Vitória railway and on the Rio de
Janeiro–Salvador highway.Distances from major centers:
The local airport is a category 3 airport, with a paved runway
1,400 meters long. There are regular flights to Belo
Paulo, Rio de
Seguro, Salvador, and Vitória.
The city hosts of one of the stages of the Brazilian Championship
of Hang gliding being that the competitors get off the Ibituruna's
Peak, where it is possible to catch sight of the whole region of
the Valley of the Rio Doce which bed is on the feet of the peak,
and also it hosts several international championships of hang
gliding, which takes the local authority to be known like "The
World-wide Capital of the Hang gliding".
It is also the city where the greatest soccer player Pedro Paulo
was born.The city is known internationally for the World Paragliding
that has been held at Ibituruna
Peak (1123 meters).
- Annual average: 32.6 °C [90.7 °F]
- Annual maximum average: 40.7 °C [105.3 °F]
- Annual minimum average: 18.3 °C [65 °F]
Average annual rainfall index: 1,350 mm
Governador Valadares is twinned
the following cities: