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Espírito Santo

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Espírito Santo is a beautiful state in southeastern Brazil.

Map of Espirito Santo Geography
Map of Espirito Santo Geography

It sits right along the Atlantic Ocean. To the north, it borders Bahia. To the south, it meets Rio de Janeiro. The state also touches Minas Gerais to the north and west. The land is very diverse. You can find flat coastal plains and many warm beaches.

Guarapari - ES. Aerial view of the city of Guarapari and its beaches, in Espírito Santo, Brazil
Guarapari - ES. Aerial view of the city of Guarapari and its beaches, in Espírito Santo, Brazil

Farther inland, the land rises into high mountains like the Serra do Caparaó.

Parque Nacional Caparaó - Subida
Parque Nacional Caparaó - Subida

These high hills have much cooler weather than the coast.

The state has many different water features. The Doce River is the most important river here.

Espírito Santo Köppen
Espírito Santo Köppen

Near the banks of this river, you will find a large lake district. This area has about 26 large lakes. The biggest one is the Juparanã Lagoon. Along the coast, the weather is tropical. This means it has rainy summers and dry winters. In the north, the land is often hot and dry. The mountains in the southwest are much cooler because they are so high.

People have lived in this land for a very long time. Before explorers arrived, Amerindian tribes like the Tupiniquim lived here. They were often semi-nomadic groups. The Portuguese began to settle the area in the 1500s. Around 1535, Vasco Coutinho arrived with 60 people. They first settled on Vitória Island. At first, the capital was in Vila Velha. However, people moved the capital to Vitória on September 8, 1551. This move happened because of raids by Amerindians.

Vila Velha
Vila Velha

Espírito Santo has a very rich history of many people arriving. Many people have Italian roots. In fact, it has the highest percentage of Italian descendants in Brazil.

Germans and luxembourgers in brazil 1875
Germans and luxembourgers in brazil 1875

These families brought traditions like pasta and cheese making. Other groups include Germans and people from Lebanon. Some people from the Ottoman Empire arrived and were called "Turcos." Even today, you can find many different cultures. The state is divided into 78 municipalities. The capital is Vitória, and the largest city is Serra.

All these different people have shaped the local culture. The people of the state are often called "capixaba." One idea is that this name comes from the Tupi word for "corn hair." This might be because the hair of European settlers looked like golden corn. Another idea is that it means a corn-grower. The food is also very special. A famous dish is Moqueca capixaba, which is a tasty fish meal.

You can also see how the land is used today. There are large ports for ships and many farms.

Déchargement porte conteneurs Vitoria
Déchargement porte conteneurs Vitoria

The state remains a very important part of Brazil.

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🖼️ Images & Media (18)
File:Convento da Penha - panoramio (1).jpg
Convento da Penha - panoramio (1).jpg
File:Germans_and_luxembourgers_in_brazil_1875.jpg
Germans_and_luxembourgers_in_brazil_1875.jpg
File:Vila Velha.jpg
Vila Velha.jpg
File:Pancas.jpg
Pancas.jpg
File:Map of Espirito Santo Geography.PNG
Map of Espirito Santo Geography.PNG
File:Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year in Espírito Santo, 2001-2024.png
Global Forest Change tree-cover loss year...
File:Espírito Santo Köppen.svg
Espírito Santo Köppen.svg
File:Guarapari - ES. Aerial view of the city of Guarapari and its beaches, in Espírito Santo, Brazil.jpg
Guarapari - ES. Aerial view of the city...
File:Palácio Anchieta, Vitória ES.jpg
Palácio Anchieta, Vitória ES.jpg
File:Café conilon Timbuí.JPG
Café conilon Timbuí.JPG
File:Oilfield_Installation.jpeg
Oilfield_Installation.jpeg
File:Fábrica da Garoto em Vila Velha.jpg
Fábrica da Garoto em Vila Velha.jpg

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