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Natal is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte, a north eastern state in Brazil. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 712,317. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 191 KB) Natal, (Brazil) - Via Costeira Photo by myself (User:Patrick-br), December-2004. ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 191 KB) Natal, (Brazil) - Via Costeira Photo by myself (User:Patrick-br), December-2004. ...
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the edge of the South American continent. ...
This article is about the year 2000. ...
Geography Natal is located at 5°46′ S 35°12′ W, in the far northeast of South America. The city has a total area of 170 km². Natal lies on the Atlantic Ocean, by the mouth of the Potengi river. South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...
History The northeastern tip of South America, cape Sao Roque, 20 miles to the north of Natal, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501-1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day. For decades thereafter, no permanent European settlement was established in the area, inhabited by the Potiguar tribe. Events Alexander becomes King of Poland. ...
Amerigo Vespucci (March 9, 1454 - February 22, 1512) was an Italian merchant and cartographer who voyaged to and wrote about the Americas. ...
In 1597, after some years during which French pirates, led by Jacques Riffault, established regular commercial activities with the native population, the ninth Portuguese Governor-General of Brazil, Francisco de Sousa, ordered the expulsion of the buccaneers. The successful expedition was led by the Captain-Major of the Captaincy of Pernambuco, Manuel de Mascarenhas Homem, with the assistance of Jerônimo de Albuquerque Maranhão. Events January 24 - Battle of Turnhout. ...
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Brazilian Northeast. ...
Albuquerque Maranhão began on January 6, 1598 the construction of the Fort of the Holy Kings or of the Magi-Kings ("Forte dos Santos Reis" or "Forte dos Reis Magos"), named after the Three Wise Men, honored in the Christian feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on that day. January 6 is the 6th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...
Events January 7 - Boris Godunov seizes the throne of Russia following the death of his brother-in-law, Tsar Feodor I April 13 - Edict of Nantes - Henry IV of France grants French Huguenots equal rights with Catholics. ...
The Three Wise Men are given the names Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar in this late 6th century mosaic from the Basilica of St Apollinarius in Ravenna, Italy. ...
This article is about the Christian feast. ...
 The Prefeitura (city hall). On December 25, 1599, Natal (whose name means Nativity or Christmas in Portuguese) was established as a village outside the fort. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 911 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Natal, Brazil ...
Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 911 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Natal, Brazil ...
December 25 is the 359th day of the year (360th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 6 days remaining. ...
Events Swedish King Sigismund III Vasa is replaced by his brother Charles IX of Sweden. ...
Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ...
The sandy soil of Natal prevented the city from becoming a producer of sugarcane, during the colonial times. Also, most of the State of Rio Grande do Norte is in the so called Polygon of Drought, where raining is scarce and irregular. For centuries, the economy of the State was based on the raising of cattle in the dry interior lands; the cattle was sent alive to the larger centers, to be used as traction, or was turned into jerked beef, to be used as food; the most typical food of Natal, "carne de sol" (sun meat), has origins in that jerked beef. Carne de sol (Spanish for meat of the sun) is a dish from Northeastern Brazil. ...
Last century, Natal benefited from the growth of the industries of salt (the north of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer in Brazil) and petroleum (the largest inland Brazilian reserves are in the State). Natal grew quickly, but in a somewhat planned way (compared to other major Brazilian cities); transit flows smoothly, public services are well distributed, ecologic conscience is visible; violence levels are low. Tourists (first Brazilians, more recently foreigners) discovered the city, which became one of the major tourist destinations in Brazil.
Because of its strategic position (Natal is one of the cities in Brazil nearest to Africa and Europe), an American military base was built in the outskirts of Natal during the World War II years; this base provided support for allied troops combating in the north of Africa. Thousands of American soldiers were sent to Natal, and their presence left traces in the culture of the city.
Economics Tourism is the major industry of Natal. It is also a relevant administrative center for the oil industry (Rio Grande do Norte being the second largest oil-producing state in Brazil). A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Beaches make popular tourist resorts Beaches make popular tourist resorts Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ...
Rio Grande do Norte is one of the states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the edge of the South American continent. ...
Rocket launch site Centro de Lancamento de Foguetes Barreira do Inferno At 5°52′ S 35°23′ W there is since 1965 a launch site for sounding rockets, called Centro de Lancamento de Foguetes Barreira do Inferno, from which regulary rockets of the types Nike-Cajun, Sonda, Black Brant, Super Loki, etc. are launched. In opposite to Alcantara it is just a site for launching suborbital rockets. If it is after announcemnt perhaps it may be possible to visit the site. Alcântara is a Brazilian city in the state of Maranhão. ...
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