Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul
Santa Maria | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Santa Maria | |
From the top: Aerial view, May 13 Theatre, Cathedral, 6th Brigade, Solar clock of the UFSM and Manoel Rivas School. | |
Location in Rio Grande do Sul | |
| Coordinates: 29°41′0″S 53°48′0″W / 29.68333°S 53.80000°W | |
| Country | Brazil |
| Region | South |
| State | Rio Grande do Sul |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rodrigo Decimo (PSDB) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,823.1 km2 (703.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 113 m (371 ft) |
| Population (2022) | |
• Total | 271,735 |
| • Density | 150/km2 (390/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) |
| HDI (2010) | 0.784 – high |
| Website | www |
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Santa Maria is a municipality (município) in the central region of Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. In 2020, its population was 283,677 inhabitants in a total area of 1,823 square kilometres (704 sq mi). Santa Maria is the 5th biggest municipality in the state, and the largest in its micro-region.
Santa Maria is often referred to as the "heart of Rio Grande" (from Portuguese: "Coração do Rio Grande"), because the city is located in the geographical center of the State.