Contagem is a city in the center of the state of Minas Gerais, in Brazil. It is located only 21 kilometers from the capital, Belo Horizonte and forms part of a metropolitan area with a population of 4.8 million. Flag of Minas Gerais See other Brazilian States Capital Belo Horizonte Largest City Belo Horizonte Area 586,528. ... Belo Horizonte (a Portuguese name meaning beautiful horizon) is among the most important cities in Brazil. ...

The city has a territorial extension of 195.2 km² and borders the municipalities of Ribeirão das Neves, Esmeraldas, Betim, Ibirité and Belo Horizonte. The elevation of the city hall is 939 meters.

According to estimates from 2005 the municipal population was 591,518 making it the second most populous city in the state of Minas Gerais, after Belo Horizonte.

The population is very young with 86% of the population being less than 50 years old.

Educational indicators:

• adults with up to 10 years of education: 23.67%
• young people between 10 and 14 years old attending school: 96.8%
• adults with no formal schooling: 5.21%
• young people aged between 15 and 17 enrolled in secundary education: 83,7%.
• adults who have studied some university: 23%
• illiteracy rate for adults over 25: 7%

Contagem is primarily a city of heavy industry with a diversified industrial complex; even though minerals processing and chemicals still have a large importance. The municipality is responsible for 4.2% of the state GDP, occupying second place after Belo Horizonte. Serious problems with both water and air pollution exist and the Pampulha River receives large quantities of heavy metals from the city.

Center of contagem

Contagem was the first industrial district built in Minas. Inaugurated in 1946, by 1950 it was the largest in the state. The Gafanhoto power plant (on the Pará River) was built by the State government in 1952 to provide for the implementation and development of the district, which is still the largest industrial region in Minas Gerais. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1894x400, 124 KB)picture i took myself it is the center of contagem Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1894x400, 124 KB)picture i took myself it is the center of contagem Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1. ...

Ceasa Minas Greater BH (regional wholesale supply center) is located in Contagem. It has a built area of 605,000 sq. mts., with 535 companies installed, and a public on busy days of 65,000 people. It is the largest in vegetables in all of Brazil.

External links

• Ceasa Greater BH
• City government official site

Municipal Government of Contagem Mayor: MARÍLIA CAMPOS Vice-mayor: Agostinho Fernandes da Silveira

Address: Praça Presidente Tancredo Neves, 200 Contagem - MG CEP:32017-110 Tel: (31) 3352.5000 Fax: (31) 3352-5159[[Category:Minas Gerais]