Uberaba

Motto(s): 19°44′52″S 47°55′55″W / 19.74778°S 47.93194°W / -19.74778; -47.93194Country BrazilRegionSoutheastState Minas GeraisFounded2 March 1820Government • MayorElisa Gonçalves de Araujo (2021) (SD)Area • Total4,529.7 km² (1,748.9 sq mi)Elevation823 m (2,700 ft)Population • Total340,277 • Density71/km² (180/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT) • Summer (DST)UTC−2 (BRST)Postal CodeArea code+55 34HDI (2010)0.772 – high^[2]Websitewww.uberaba.mg.gov.br

Uberaba (Portuguese pronunciation: [ubeˈɾabɐ]) is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Highlands at an elevation of 823 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level on the Uberaba River, and is situated 418 kilometres (260 mi) from the state capital, Belo Horizonte.^[3] The city was granted its status in 1856 and derives its name from the Tupi language, meaning 'bright water'.^[4] As of 2021, the population was 340,277 inhabitants.

History

The history of Uberaba traces its origins back to 1810, when Captain Major Eustaquio founded a settlement near the ancient Anhanguera route, which was more commonly referred to back then as the "Goyazes road". This settlement served as a resting point for both locals and travelers who passed through or arrived there during the 19th century. Its strategic location and function as a crossroads prompted local farmers to engage in crop cultivation and cattle domestication for commercial purposes, leading to the establishment of a robust livestock network in the region.^[5]

Initially a part of the Captaincy of Goias, the territory of Uberaba was incorporated into the Captaincy of Minas Gerais in 1816. It gained recognition as a parish in 1820 and was officially designated as a city in 1856.^[6]

In 1889, the inaugural railway station was established due to the expansion of the Mogiana Railway from the neighboring municipality of Sacramento. The introduction of the railway system boosted the economy of Uberaba in the subsequent years.^[7]

Currently, Uberaba is well-known for its lively livestock and agribusiness events. As an industrial hub, the city functions as a regional center for culture, commerce, and entertainment, hosting a diverse array of institutions, markets, and entertainment venues.^[8]

The municipality also encompasses the district of Peirópolis, a paleontological site located in the rural area of Uberaba. Within this district, one can find the Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas Llewellyn Ivor Price (lit: Paleontological Research Center Llewellyn Ivor Price), and a museum dedicated to the fossils discovered in the vicinity.

On March 27, 2024, Uberaba gained recognition from UNESCO as a global geopark.^[9]

Geography

Climate

Uberaba has a Tropical climate (Aw) with an average annual temperature of 21.9 °C (71.4 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded was 40.2 °C (105.2 °F) in October, while the lowest recorded temperature was −2.2 °C (28.0 °F) in July.

Precipitation occurs on an average of 86 days per year, with the highest amount in December and the lowest in July.^[10]

Demographics

Uberaba is the primary municipality in the Intermediate Geographic Region of Uberaba.^[12]

In 2021, the Immediate Geographic Region of Uberaba comprised 10 municipalities spanning an area of 14,281.652 km² (5,514.17 sq mi).

Economy

Uberaba is a significant producer of grains in the state, particularly corn, soybean, coffee, cotton, and sugarcane. The city is also renowned for hosting the agricultural show Expozebu, one of the world's largest cattle fairs held annually.^[13][14]

The service sector employs slightly over half of the city's population, followed by the manufacturing industry, and agriculture ranking third. The industrial sector encompasses various fields such as agribusiness, food processing, textile manufacturing, steel production, mining, chemical manufacturing, electronic devices, home appliances, and more.^[15]

Within the industrial park, there are processing plants operated by major chemical companies, including Mosaic (formerly Vale S.A.), FMC Corporation, Sipcam Nichino (UPL), and Yara.^[16]

Cargo transportation to other cities is primarily done via road and rail networks.^[17]

Crop Plantations (2006)

• Bananas: 28 hectares
• Coffee: 1,000 hectares
• Oranges: 1,410 hectares
• Tangerines: 168 hectares
• Cotton: 3,145 hectares
• Rice: 543 hectares
• Peanuts: 100 hectares
• Potatoes: 2,190 hectares
• Sugarcane: 36,000 hectares
• Onions: 450 hectares
• Beans: 1,450 hectares
• Cassava: 1,300 hectares
• Corn: 50,000 hectares
• Soybeans: 100,000 hectares
• Sorghum: 1,250 hectares
• Tomatoes: 240 hectares
• Wheat: 336 hectares

Farming Statistics (2006)

• Number of farms: 1,093
• Agricultural area: 282,692 ha.
• Planted area: 105,000 ha.
• Area of natural pasture: 112,678
• Workers directly employed by producers: 1,764
• Workers indirectly employed in the sector: 2,533

Paleontology

Uberaba is recognized for housing a significant paleontological site in Brazil, boasting fossil records dating back approximately 80 to 66 million years, from the Late Cretaceous period.

The first paleontological discoveries in the territory were made by chance in 1945 when workers on a rural construction site accidentally came across well-preserved fossils. Subsequently, paleontologist Llewellyn Ivor Price, associated with the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM), conducted extensive scientific research in the region from 1947 until 1974, with Peirosaurus being one of Price's early findings in the area of the Serra da Galga Formation.^[18] The specimens collected during this period were later transferred to the Museum of Earth Sciences in Rio de Janeiro.^[19]

In 1991, it was established in the district of Peirópolis, the Paleontological Research Center Llewellyn Ivor Price, locally known as the Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas Llewellyn Ivor Price. Currently, the research center collaborates with various national and international research institutions, and serves as a hub for paleontology in Brazil, focusing on understanding the fossil fauna and environments of the Late Cretaceous in the region, maintaining its own technical team for fossil preservation.^[20] As an integral part of the Research Center, The Dinosaur Museum aims to disseminate paleontological knowledge to the general public through interactive and educational exhibitions. The museum attracts an average of 100,000 visitors annually.^[21]

In 2022, a geological survey identified 31 geosites and sites in Uberaba.^[22] Across the territory, over 10,000 prehistoric animal fossils have been documented, which includes sauropods, theropods, and velociraptors, along with various other specimens such as fishes, frogs, crocodyliforms, turtles, birds, mammals, mollusks, and the presence of trace fossils.^[23] Among the most notable discoveries is the Uberabatitan, unearthed in 2004.^[24]

Transportation

Uberaba is served by Mário de Almeida Franco Airport.

Road access to Uberaba is provided by BR-050, connecting the city to the federal capital Brasília and São Paulo, as well as by BR-262, linking it to the state capital Belo Horizonte.

Notable people

• Alfredo Moser, inventor.
• João Menezes, tennis player.
• Yuu Kamiya, artist.

Popular culture

Uberaba is renowned for being the residence of the philanthropist and spiritualist medium Chico Xavier. Xavier was born in Pedro Leopoldo in 1910 and resided in Uberaba from 1959 until his death at the age of 92 on June 30, 2002. He was buried in the city.^[25]

Sister cities

• Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
• Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
• Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

References

External links

• City Hall of Uberaba website (in Portuguese)
• Government of the State of Minas Gerais website (in Portuguese)