Campo Grande

Campo Grande is a major urban center located in the central and western region of Brazil.

It serves as the capital and the largest city of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The city was planned within a vast green space, featuring wide streets and avenues lined with trees.

Historically, the area served as a vital waypoint for travelers moving by land. These travelers often journeyed from São Paulo or Minas Gerais toward northern Mato Grosso. Today, the city stands as the third largest urban center in the Center-West region. It is also ranked as the 17th largest city in the entire country.

The geography of the region is defined by the Cerrado. This is a tropical savanna that varies in appearance. It can range from pure grassland to a nearly closed canopy of medium-height trees.

Scientists have suggested that differences in soil properties might explain these various vegetation types. To protect this unique environment, the municipality contains two protected areas. The Matas do Segredo State Park was created in 2000 to preserve Cerrado forest. The Prosa State Park was established shortly after in 2002.

The climate in Campo Grande is classified as a tropical savanna climate. This is slightly drier than a tropical monsoon climate. Because it sits in the interior of South America, the weather can be quite extreme. The city experiences semi-humid, hot summers. It also has a notably seasonal dry winter from June through September. January is typically the warmest and rainiest month of the year. During this time, mean highs reach 29 °C (84.2 °F). July brings cooler temperatures, with mean highs of 25 °C (77.0 °F). On very cold winter nights, temperatures can occasionally approach freezing.

History shows that Campo Grande began as a small village in 1877. Two farmers, José Antônio Pereira and Manoel Vieira de Sousa, founded the settlement. They arrived from Minas Gerais following the end of the Paraguayan War. They built the village near the Serra de Maracaju cliffs. The site sat at the confluence of two streams named Prosa and Segredo. These stream courses now align with two of the city's most important avenues. The settlement was officially recognized as a municipality on August 26, 1899. It was later renamed Campo Grande.

The city's population has seen massive growth over the last few decades. In 1970, the population was approximately 140,000 people. By 2007, that number had climbed to 750,000 people. This growth is linked to the city's privileged location and climate. In 1977, the state of Mato Grosso was split into two separate states. Campo Grande became the capital of the new Mato Grosso do Sul. Interestingly, Campo Grande's population surpassed the former capital, Cuiabá. This is an unusual occurrence in Brazil, where most state capitals are also the largest cities.

Culture in Campo Grande is a rich mixture of many different ethnic groups. The population includes immigrants from the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. It also features Middle Easterners, Armenians, and people from Europe, such as Portugal, Germany, Italy, and Spain. These groups mixed with Paraguayans, native Amerindian peoples, and Afro-Brazilians.

The economy is supported by the tertiary sector, which includes commerce and services. However, agribusiness remains a vital part of the local economy. The region is a major producer of soybeans. Other important crops include rice, manioc, and increasingly, sugar cane. The city's GDP was R$ 20.7 billion in 2013.

Transportation connects Campo Grande to the rest of the continent. The Campo Grande International Airport is used by the Brazilian Air Force.

The airport can accommodate medium-sized jets like the Boeing 737. A railway system also connects the city to Bauru in São Paulo and Corumbá on the Bolivian border. While passenger services have ceased, freight trains still move products through the region. Additionally, three main federal highways intersect here. These roads link the city to the Amazon region, the state of Goiás, and Bolivia.

Sports are a central part of life for the people living here. Football is the most popular sport in the city. The Estádio Universitário Pedro Pedrossian, or "Morenão," is a major landmark.

This stadium was opened in 1971 and can hold up to 45,000 people. The city also supports car racing enthusiasts. It features the Orlando Moura International Circuit.

Finally, the city hosts the Volta das Nações every October. This is a 21 km mini-marathon held at Parque das Nações Indígenas. It attracts approximately 26.4 thousand participants from around the world.