Juiz de Fora
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Juiz de Fora | |
|---|---|
| State | Minas Gerais |
| Area: | 1424 km² |
| Population: | 509,125(Estimate: 07/2006 IBGE) |
| Altitude: | 678 m above sea level |
| Distance from Belo Horizonte | 267 km |
| Postcode (CEP): | 36100-000 |
| Geographic location: | 21° 41' South 43º 20' West |
| Website: | www.pjf.mg.gov.br |
Juiz de Fora is a city in the southeast of Minas Gerais, Brazil close to the state border with Rio de Janeiro. According to the 2006 estimate the population was 509,125 inhabitants. The area of the municipality is 1,424 km².
The location is strategic for economic growth, between the three most important centers of southeast Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (189 km), Belo Horizonte (260 km) and São Paulo (486 km). Major highways connect Juiz de Fora with these three metropolitan areas, the most important being the BR 040, which connects Brasília with Rio de Janeiro, passing through Belo Horizonte.
Often referred to only as "JF", this traditional city is located in the deep Paraibuna river valley, a major tributary of the Paraíba do Sul, in the Paraíba do Sul basin, between the Orgãos and Mantiqueira ranges.
Contents |
[edit] Weather
Although lying so close to tropical latitudes, the climate is relatively mild and healthy. The altitude of between 700 and 900 meters makes the weather usually cooler and rainier than the lower surrounding area. The climate is classified as Tropical Altitude, with two distinct seasons, one hotter and rainier (October to April) and one cooler and drier (May to September). The average annual temperature is around 19 °C with a maximum of 24 °C and a minimum of 15 °C. It is very humid with average humidity of 80%. The annual rainfall varies between 1,300 mm and 1,500 mm.
[edit] Industry, Commerce, and Culture
Juiz de Fora is the second most important industrial center in the state, despite being only the fourth largest city in population, after having been the biggest city of the state at the beginning of the 20th century and holding the second position until the 1990s. There are important metallurgic and automotive factories (Mercedes-Benz the most famous one) installed in the city and several textile factories.
The city is also an important commercial center with a considerable area of influence and is considered the capital of the Zona da Mata region. It has three shopping centers, several hyper-marts and myriad small shops, selling clothes at reasonable prices and attracting customers from a wide area around the city.
The massive presence of immigrants - especially from Italy, Germany, Syria and Lebanon - throughout its history has given the city a surprising cosmopolitan spirit and a very diverse cuisine. Walking down its Avenida Rio Branco, (a broad and straight avenue several kilometers long) one can find typical German, Italian, Arabic, Portuguese and Indian restaurants, as well as traditional Brazilian and vegetarian.
Juiz de Fora is an important regional cultural center, being the only town in south-east Minas Gerais (one of the few in the interior of the state) to have permanently functional cinemas, theatres, music venues and light entertainment. There is also an important museum (Museu Mariano Procópio) and a Philharmonic Orchestra (Orquestra Filarmônica Pró-Musica). The city also hosts a yearly classical music festival, the Festival Internacional de Música Brasileira Colonial e Música Antiga (International Festival of Brazilian Colonial Music and Early Music). It is home to the "Meninos Cantores da Academia" the second oldest choir in this category in Brazil. Cultural life is also boosted by a Federal University and several private-owned colleges; making it a popular destination for students. Some of the courses at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora are reputedly among the best in Brazil.
The cultural life of Juiz de Fora is marked by great eclecticism, which can be seen in its architecture. Art Nouveau buildings dating from the first decade of the 20th century are intermingled with those in Art Déco style from the mid-20th century, as well as the architectural art works by Niemeyer.
Important roads:
- BR-040, linking JF to north-south cities in the middle part of the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, such as Belo Horizonte, Congonhas, Conselheiro Lafaiete, Barbacena, Santos Dumont, Sete Lagoas, Três Rios, Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília.
- BR-267, linking JF to east-west cities in the southern part of Minas Gerais, such as Leopoldina, Bicas, Lima Duarte, Bom Jardim de Minas and Caxambu.
Important railroads:
- MRS-Logística.
[edit] History
The origins of Juiz de Fora go back to the beginning of the 18th century, when a road called "Caminho Novo" (New Way) was opened to link Rio de Janeiro to Minas Gerais. The region was covered with dense forest (this why it is still called "Zona da Mata", Forest Zone). Although the way was opened in the early 18th century the region was just an uninhabited zone of passage.
The development of the region would only start after the decline of gold mining in the central zone of Minas Gerais. The capital previously invested in the mines was now invested in coffee plantations, and the region of Zona da Mata became a fertile place to invest. The position of the then-called village of Santo Antônio do Paraibuna was favorable due to the road connection with the capital of the country and its harbour.
In 1850, the small village was elevated to a city. Progress increased with the construction of the modern União e Indústria road in 1861 to replace the Caminho Novo. Five years later the railroad reached the city and in 1889 the first hydroelectric powerplant of Latin America was built on the Paraibuna river.
In the beginning of the 20th century, Juiz de Fora was among the main textile and industrial centers in South America, competing with São Paulo but the city couldn't keep this status for very long. By the 1940s, the city had lost its influence due to the continued growth of Belo Horizonte, the newly-built state capital replacing Ouro Preto.
Today Juiz de Fora is an important commercial center for the surrounding region that has more than 2 million inhabitants.
[edit] Demography
The population, which was 238,510 in 1970 with 7.6% living in rural areas is estimated to be 513,619 in 2005 with less than 1 percent living in rural areas. At this growth rate the population is estimated to pass 570,000 by 2010.
The population of Juiz de Fora since the first census, in 1872:
1872 - 18,800
1890 - 22,600
1920 - 118,500
1940 - 118,400
1950 - 111,300
1960 - 125,000
1970 - 238,500
1980 - 305,800
1991 - 385,100
1996 - 424,000
2000 - 456,400
2006 (estimated) - 520,000
[edit] Famous People From Juiz de Fora
- Geraldo Majella Agnelo (cardinal and papabile)in the recent elections for Pope
- Itamar Franco (former Brazilian President)
- Fernando Gabeira (writer, reporter, congressman)
- Bernardo Mascarenhas (entrepreneur and builder of the first hydroelectric station in Latin America, located in Juiz de Fora)
- Murilo Mendes (poet)
- Pedro Nava (writer and journalist)
- Helio Costa, journalist and politician
[edit] External links
