Torres, Rio Grande do Sul
| Torres | ||
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| city | ||
Cal Beach
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| Coordinates: 29°20′31″S 49°43′47″W / 29.34194°S 49.72972°W | ||
| Country |
 Brazil
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| Region | South | |
| State |
 Rio Grande do Sul
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| Founded | March 28, 1878 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | João Alberto Machado Cardoso | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 264.5 km2 (102.1 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 16 m (52 ft) | |
| Population (2008) | ||
| • Total | 33,686 | |
| • Density | 207.7/km2 (538/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | BRT (UTC-3) | |
| • Summer (DST) | BRST (UTC-2) | |
| HDI (2000) | 0.821 – high | |
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Torres is a city on the coast of south Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city has a population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants, of which 10,000 live in rural zones, but in summer the number of inhabitants reaches 300,000.
The municipality's name derives from the three basalt towers standing in the ocean, giving the beach its distinctive appearance. On March 21, 1878, by provincial law, Torres became a municipality. Today, with a population of 33,686 permanent inhabitants, Torres is an important tourist centre, with more than fifty hotels, restaurants and bars. Local cuisine is influenced by international and Mediterranean cuisine, with seafood prevailing.
Unlike the rest of the state's coast, which is uninterrupted sandy beach, Torres boasts four high rocky formations standing in the sea. These vertical columns are almost 40 meters high and contain several caves created by the action of the waves over the years, locally called furnas. These rocky formations rise up from the sea creating an impressive scenario.
The climate in Torres is humid subtropical (Cfa). Summers are warm and the hottest month is February, with an average temperature of 23 °C (73.4 °F). Winters are cool and the coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). The wettest month is March, with 142 mm (5.6 in) of precipitation. The average annual temperature in the city is 19 °C (66.2 °F) and the average annual precipitation is 1,390 mm (54.72 in), with rain regularly falling all year long.
On March 28, 2004, the Cyclone Catarina hit Torres with winds of about 150 km/h causing extensive damage. This was a rare event for the region.
The municipality contains the Guarita State Park, created in 1971 to protect a headland on the Atlantic Ocean. It also contains the Itapeva State Park, created in 2002 to protect an area of dunes, restinga and meadows.
Tourists may visit the Ilha dos Lobos (Island of the Wolves), which is located directly in front of the Praia Grande beach, approximately 1700 meters off shore. Hiking is possible in the nearby mountains of the Serra do Mar.
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Wikipedia