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Sergipe

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Sergipe is a state located in the Northeast Region of Brazil. It sits along the Atlantic coast of the country.

Skyline Aracaju1
Skyline Aracaju1

By geographical area, Sergipe is the smallest state in Brazil. Only the Federal District is smaller than Sergipe. It shares its northern border with the state of Alagoas. To the south and west, it borders the state of Bahia. The state is divided into 75 different municipalities. The capital and largest city is Aracaju.

Ponte Aracaju-Barra
Ponte Aracaju-Barra

The geography of Sergipe changes significantly from the coast to the interior. The coastline features sandy beaches, swamps, and mangroves. A small strip of tropical rainforest also runs along the coast.

Curva da Avenida Beira Mar Aracaju
Curva da Avenida Beira Mar Aracaju

Moving inland, the land rises into a higher, rough zone called the agreste. Most of the inland area consists of a dry savanna known as caatinga. The São Francisco River marks the northern boundary.

Rio São Francisco
Rio São Francisco

The southern half of the state slopes toward the Atlantic. This area is drained by several small rivers. These include the Irapiranga, the Real, and the Cotinguiba. These rivers are navigable for short distances. However, sandbars at their mouths prevent the development of good ports.

Terminal Marítimo Inácio Barbosa
Terminal Marítimo Inácio Barbosa

History in the region began with many indigenous peoples. Groups such as the Kanindé, Aratus, and Tupi lived in the area. Gaspar de Lemos landed in the region in 1501. Eventually, the Portuguese Crown made the region part of the Captaincy of Bahia. The Tupinambá tribes resisted Portuguese rule for about two decades. This period involved intense warfare and the enslavement of many natives for sugar plantations. The first Portuguese settlement was at Sergipe D'El-Rey in 1591.

Documento real da emancipação da capitania de Sergipe 1820
Documento real da emancipação da capitania de Sergipe 1820

During the 17th century, Sergipe faced many foreign invasions. Dutch forces controlled the territory from 1641 to 1645. The Dutch built the region's first fort between the São Francisco and Sergipe rivers. French buccaneers also frequently raided the coast. These raids were often driven by the desire for king-wood. This was a highly prized commodity at the time. The Portuguese regained control in 1645 and eventually drove off pirates. By 1723, Sergipe was responsible for one-third of Bahia's sugar production. On July 8, 1820, King John VI signed a decree to separate Sergipe from Bahia.

Sergipe - BR-101 (pavimento)
Sergipe - BR-101 (pavimento)

The economy of Sergipe is diverse and relies on both agriculture and industry. The industrial sector is the largest part of the GDP at 53.9%. This includes sectors like construction, food, and electricity.

Aeroporto de Aracaju
Aeroporto de Aracaju

Agriculture accounts for 7% of the GDP. Sergipe is a major producer of sugarcane, which was used for sugar and ethanol. In 2018, the state produced over 2 million tons of sugarcane. It is also a leading producer of coconuts and oranges. In 2017, the state produced 234 million coconuts. The government is also developing a petroleum and natural gas industry.

Demographics show a large and diverse population living in the state. The 2022 census recorded 2,210,004 residents. Most of these people live in urban areas, with an urbanization rate of 82.2%. The population is multiracial. About 61.6% identify as Brown, while 25.2% identify as White. Black residents make up 12.8% of the population. Religion also plays a major role in the culture. The 2010 census shows that 1,579,480 people are Catholic. Other groups include Protestants, Spiritists, and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Estádio Estadual Lourival Baptista
Estádio Estadual Lourival Baptista

Sergipe has also experienced significant modern challenges and notable figures. In the 1930s, the state was known for outlaws like Lampião. During World War II, Nazi German submarines attacked the coast. The U-507 submarine attacked ships near Sergipe in August 1942. This caused approximately 600 civilian deaths. Despite these hardships, the state has produced world-class athletes. For example, Duda is a world champion beach volleyball player.

20170730 Beach Volleyball WM Vienna 3907
20170730 Beach Volleyball WM Vienna 3907

Many famous Brazilian footballers also call Sergipe home.

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🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:Teleférico de Aracaju.jpg
Teleférico de Aracaju.jpg
File:Skyline Aracaju1.jpg
Skyline Aracaju1.jpg
File:Documento real da emancipação da capitania de Sergipe 1820.jpg
Documento real da emancipação da...
File:Ponte Aracaju-Barra.jpg
Ponte Aracaju-Barra.jpg
File:Parque Teófilo Dantas.jpg
Parque Teófilo Dantas.jpg
File:Curva_da_Avenida_Beira_Mar_Aracaju.jpg
Curva_da_Avenida_Beira_Mar_Aracaju.jpg
File:20170730 Beach Volleyball WM Vienna 3907.jpg
20170730 Beach Volleyball WM Vienna 3907.jpg
File:Aeroporto de Aracaju.jpg
Aeroporto de Aracaju.jpg
File:Sergipe - BR-101 (pavimento).jpg
Sergipe - BR-101 (pavimento).jpg
File:Terminal Marítimo Inácio Barbosa.jpg
Terminal Marítimo Inácio Barbosa.jpg
File:Estádio Estadual Lourival Baptista.jpg
Estádio Estadual Lourival Baptista.jpg
File:Rio São Francisco.jpg
Rio São Francisco.jpg

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