Araguari

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Nickname(s): Cidade Sorriso (ENG: Smile City)

Location in Minas Gerais

Coordinates: 18°38′56″S 48°11′13″W / 18.64889°S 48.18694°WCoordinates: 18°38′56″S 48°11′13″W / 18.64889°S 48.18694°W

Founded

1888

Government

• Mayor

Raul Belém (PRB)

Area

• Total

2,730.632 km² (1,054.3 sq mi)

Elevation

1,013 m (3,323 ft)

Population (2007)

• Total

106,403

• Density

40.2/km² (104.1/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC-3 (UTC-3)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-2 (UTC-2)

Website

Araguari

Araguari is a municipality in western Minas Gerais state, Brazil. It is located in the northern Triângulo Mineiro region, on the Jordão River, a tributary of the Paranaíba River, at an elevation between 940 and 1,087 meters. The municipality of Araguari has an area of 2,774 km², with 54 km² in the urban zone and 2,675 km² in the rural zone. The population in 2011 was 110,402, making it the third most important city in the Triângulo Mineiro, after Uberlândia and Uberaba. Araguari has also been one of the fastest growing cities in Brazil, growing more than the rest of the country in proportion.

Rivers that water the municipality are: Rio Araguari, Ribeirão das Araras, Corrego Grande, Ribeirão Jordão, and Ribeirão Piçarrão. The Paranaíba in the north forms the boundary with the state of Goiás. There are many waterfalls and rapids (128 according to one source) giving the area a great potential in tourism.

The year is divided into two periods, the rainy season from November to April and the dry season from May to October. Because of the elevation (more than 1,000 meters above sea level) temperatures are pleasant with few extremes although humidity can be high in the rainy season.

Araguari is a major railroad junction and connects with the states of Goiás, , and Mato Grosso do Sul.

Araguari's main source of income is from the large herds of cattle raised in the hinterlands, where rice, soybeans, corn (maize), citrus fruits, tomatoes, beans, and manioc are also cultivated. In recent years the region has become one of the most important coffee-growing areas in the country and there is an annual coffee fair. Araguari has 9 financial institutions. There is an industrial park with several industries specializing in metallurgy, agro-industrial products (cold meats and juices) and storage facilities for grains. In the last feww years Araguari has been changing rapidly and receiving many important investments as Selecta which produces soy bean oils and accounts more than 500 new jobs. The city also received the biggest rail trainshipment in Latin America. Now Araguari is lacking of workers to work in the many new jobs offers.

Occupation of the population by sectors

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Wikipedia