Mossoró
Mossoró | |
|---|---|
Municipality | |
| The Municipality of Mossoró | |
| Nickname(s): "Capital do Oeste" ("The Capital of the West") and "Cidade do Sal e do Petróleo" ("City of Salt and Petroleum") | |
| Motto: Mossoró da gente. Fazendo nossa vida melhorar. (Our Mossoró. Improving our lives.) | |
Location in the Rio Grande do Norte | |
Location of State of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil | |
| Coordinates: 5°11′16″S 37°20′38″W / 5.18778°S 37.34389°W | |
| Country | Brazil |
| Region | Northeast |
| State | Rio Grande do Norte |
| Founded | 1852 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Allyson Leandro Bezerra Silva (União Brasil) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 2,099.334 km2 (810.557 sq mi) |
| • Urban (EMBRAPA/2015) | 74.031 km2 (28.584 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 67 m (220 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Municipality | 264,577 |
| • Rank | 2nd in RN |
| • Density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) |
| Economy | |
| • GDP (IBGE/2021) | R$ 8,071,762,200 |
| • GDP per capita (IBGE/2021) | R$ 26,570.03 |
| Human Development UNDP/2010 | |
| • HDI | 0.720 |
| • HDI rank | 3rd in RN |
| • Gini (2020) | 0.52 |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (BRT) |
| Postal code | 59600-000 to 59649-999 |
| Climate | Semi-arid |
| Climate classification | BSh |
| Patron saint | Saint Lucy |
| Demonym | Mossoroense |
| Website | www.prefeiturademossoro.com.br |
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Mossoró (Portuguese pronunciation: [mosoˈɾɔ]) is a Brazilian municipality in the interior of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, recognized as the capital of the Brazilian semi-arid region. Covering an area of approximately 2,100 square kilometres (810 sq mi), it is the largest municipality in the state by area, located 281 kilometers from the state capital, Natal. With a population of 264,577 inhabitants according to the 2022 demographic census, it ranks as the second most populous city in Rio Grande do Norte, after the capital, the most populous in the state's interior, and the 108th in Brazil.
Situated between two state capitals, Natal and Fortaleza, both connected by the BR-304 highway that bypasses the municipality, Mossoró is one of the main cities in the Northeast's interior and is experiencing significant economic and infrastructural growth. It is one of the most attractive cities in Brazil for investments. The municipality is one of Brazil's largest producers of onshore oil, and its economy is notably driven by irrigated horticulture, largely oriented toward export.
Emancipated from Assu in 1852, the municipality's history is marked by significant events, including the abolition of slavery in 1883, five years before the Lei Áurea, the first female vote in Brazil, and the historic resistance against the bandit group led by Lampião in 1927. A cultural hub of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró is also prominent in business tourism. Annual festivities attract numerous tourists, such as the Mossoró Cidade Junina, one of Brazil's largest June festivals, and the Auto da Liberdade, the country's largest open-air theatrical performance.