Pelotas

Vegetation

thumb|300px|An [[araucaria tree at dusk near the hippodrome of Pelotas|alt=|left]]

The larger part of rural Pelotas is made up of grasslands, with low and herbaceous vegetation (pampa). Small groves of cultivated trees (Babylon willow, eucalyptus, pine, cypress, acacia, poplar and platanus) and native trees (Cockspur coral tree and araucaria angustifolia) are also found. Pelotas is 55 km (34 mi) from the Atlantic Ocean, and possesses a beach along the Lagoa dos Patos, called Laranjal. In the vicinity of the beach one can find quagmires and sand dunes.

Hydrography

Pelotas is part of the watershed of the Camaquã River. The streams Quilombo and Caneleiras drain the city. They meet to form the Arroio de Pelotas, which flows into the São Gonçalo Channel.

Culture

Places of interest

The Public Library of Pelotas was founded in 1875, and constructed with materials brought over from Europe. Pelotas has two theatres, the Sete de Abril and the Guarani Theatre. The Sete de Abril, which was constructed in 1831, is one of the most traditional theatres in Brazil. The city boasts four major museums: the Carlos Ritter Museum of Natural History, the Leopoldo Gotuzzo Museum of Art, the "Candy Museum", and the Museum of the Baroness.

Events

One major attraction is the <span class="plainlinks">Fenadoce</span>, a display of sweets prepared from traditional 18th century Portuguese recipes. More than 300,000 people come to the annual event, which began in 1986. Formerly held in different locations each year, today it is always celebrated in the Centro Internacional de Cultura e Eventos (International Center of Culture and Events).

Demographics

Ethnicities

The first immigrants to the region were the Portuguese, coming mostly from the Azores, something which profoundly influenced the culture of the city, especially in its architecture and cuisine.

thumb|220px|The countryside of Pelotas

Another important immigration was that of the Germans (the majority from Pomerania — see Pomeranians), even though they preferred to settle in rural areas, unlike the Portuguese, who settled in the city itself. Also worthy to mention are other ethnicities that settled in Pelotas, such as Africans (descendants of slaves, mainly from Angola), Italians, Poles, French, Jews, Lebanese Arabs, etc. The number of pure indigenous people is unknown, but probably very small (being greater the number of people with some indigenous ancestry).

Before the arrival of the first European settlers, the area of the southern part of Rio Grande do Sul, including the municipality of Pelotas, was occupied by Amerindian groups. According to archaeological evidence discovered there, the groups were: Minuane, Charrua and Guaraní.

In the 2022 census there were 247,257 Whites, 38,691 Blacks, 39,107 Pardos (mixed origins), 363 native Brazilians and 264 Asians.

Religion

In regards to religion, the majority of inhabitants (about 34%) are Roman Catholic, followed by Protestant religions (especially among the people of German origin), such as Evangelical Lutheran and Anglican sects (among Foursquarians, Baptists, Adventists, Presbyterians and Neopentecostal churches). In recent times there has also been a growing number of Jehovah's Witnesses and Latter-day Saints. Other noteworthy religions include Spiritism and Afro-Brazilian ritualism (such as Umbanda, Quimbanda and Candomblé).

Economy

thumb|left|325px|A derelict rice factory located near the [[São Gonçalo Channel]]

The economy of Pelotas is mostly agricultural and commercial. The latter is largely represented by Arabs, mostly Lebanese (erroneously referred to as turcos, or Turks), and a few other foreigners.

The region is the largest producer of peaches for the country's storehouse industry, along with other products such as asparagus, cucumber, fig and strawberries. The city also is a great producer of rice and cattle products. Pelotas produces more milk than anywhere else in the state. Among them are: Oferenda, 1942, in bronze, located in the Ecumenical Cemetery São Francisco de Paula; Monumento ao Colono, 1958, in bronze and granite, in the Primeiro de Maio Square; Monumento ao Bispo Dom Joaquim Ferreira de Mello, 1942, in bronze and granite, on the Avenue Dom Joaquim; Sentinela Farroupilha, 1935, in bronze, 20 de Setembro Square; As Três Idades do Trabalho, in granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square; Dr. Luiz Pereira Lima, 1958, in bronze, Piratinino de Almeida Square; Monumento ao Coronel Pedro Osório, 1954, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square; Monumento à Mãe, 1968, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square; Monumento ao Dr. José Brusque 1968, in bronze and granite, Coronel Pedro Osório Square.

Notable people

João Simões Lopes Neto (1865–1916), writer
Hipólito da Costa, the founder of the printing press in Brazil
Zola Amaro (1891–1944), lyrical singer
Kleiton & Kledir, singers and composers
Vitor Ramil, singer and composer
Glória Menezes, actress
Taison, football player
Emerson Ferreira da Rosa, football player
Daniel Carvalho, football player
Michel Bastos, football player
Angélica Freitas (* 1973), writer, journalist

Twin towns – sister cities

Pelotas is twinned with:

Aracati, Brazil (2005)
Aveiro, Portugal (1996)
Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay (2005)
Suzu, Japan (1963)

Subdivisions

thumb|200px|Centro (downtown)

thumb|200px|Pontal da Barra at the Colônia Z-3

There are five neighborhoods (bairros) in Pelotas and nine districts:

Bairros

Areal
Centro
Fragata
Laranjal
Três Vendas

Districts

1st District- Sede
2nd District- Colônia Z3
3rd District- Cerrito Alegre
4th District- Triunfo
5th District- Cascata
6th District- Santa Silvana
7th District- Quilombo
8th District- Rincão da Cruz
9th District- Monte Bonito