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Niterói

Niterói
Municipality
Municipality of Niterói
In the foreground, to the left, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Niterói. In the background, Icaraí Beach.
In the foreground, to the left, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Niterói. In the background, Icaraí Beach.
Flag of Niterói
Flag
Official seal of Niterói
Seal
Nickname(s): Cidade Sorriso (Smile City)
Location of Niterói in the state of Rio de Janeiro
Location of Niterói in the state of Rio de Janeiro
Coordinates: 22°52′58″S 43°06′14″W / 22.88278°S 43.10389°W / -22.88278; -43.10389
Country Brazil
Region Southeast
State Rio de Janeiro
Founded 22 November 1573
Incorporated 1835
Government
 • Mayor Rodrigo Neves (PV)
Area
 • Municipality 129.38 km2 (49.95 sq mi)
Elevation 0 m (0 ft)
Population (2010)
 • Municipality 487,327(39th)
 • Density 3,684.4/km2 (9,543/sq mi)
 • Metro 12,620,000 (As part of the Rio de Janeiro City's metropolitan region)
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Postal Code 24000-000
Area code(s) 21
Website Niterói, Rio de Janeiro

Niterói (Portuguese pronunciation: [niteˈɾɔj]) is a municipality of the state of Rio de Janeiro in the southeast region of Brazil. It lies across Guanabara Bay facing the city of Rio de Janeiro and forms part of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Area. It was the state capital, as marked by its golden mural crown, between 1834~1894 and again between 1903~1975. It has an estimated population of 487,327 inhabitants (2010) and an area of 129.375 km (80.39 mi), making it the sixth most populous city in the state. It has the highest Human Development Index of the state. The city has the nicknames of Nikity, Nicki City and the Smile City (Cidade Sorriso).

Studies by the Getulio Vargas Foundation in June 2011 classified Niterói as the richest city of Brazil, with 55.7% of the population included in class A. Considering the classes A and B, Niterói also appears in the first place, with 85.9% of the population in these classes.

The word "Niterói" comes from the Tupi language and means "water that hides". It was founded on 22 November 1573 by the Tupi Amerindian chief Araribóia (who later was converted to Roman Catholicism and given the Christian name of Martim Afonso, after the Portuguese explorer Martim Afonso de Sousa). It makes Niteroi the only Brazilian city to have been founded by a non-Christian, non-assimilated Brazilian Amerindian.


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