Itatiaia
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Itatiaia | |
|---|---|
| Município de Itatiaia Municipality of Itatiaia | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Location of Itatiaia in the state of Rio de Janeiro | |
  Itatiaia Location of Itatiaia in Brazil | |
| Coordinates: 22°29′46″S 44°33′48″W / 22.49611°S 44.56333°W | |
| Country | Brazil |
| Region | Southeast |
| State | Rio de Janeiro |
| Founded | 1 June 1989 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| • Mayor | Dudu (PMDB) |
| Area | |
• Total | 224.957 km2 (86.856 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 695 m (2,280 ft) |
| Population (2020 [1]) | |
• Total | 32,064 |
| • Density | 133.34/km2 (345.3/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Itatiaiense |
| Time zone | UTC−3 (BRT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−2 (BRST) |
| Area code | +55 24 |
| Climate | Cwa |
| Website | http://itatiaia.rj.gov.br/ |
Itatiaia (Portuguese pronunciation: [itɐtʃiˈajjɐ]) is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. With a 2021 population estimate of 32,312, it is the 1,097th-most populous municipality in Brazil.[2] Located in the Mantiqueira mountain range and on the border of the states of Rio de Janeiro and Minais Gerais, it covers an area of 241.035 km2 (93.064 sq mi).[3]
The oldest national park in Brazil, Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia), is partially located within Itatiaia.[4] The municipality also contains part of the 8,036 ha (19,860-acre) Pedra Selada State Park, created in 2012.[5]
Itatiaia is a Guaraní term meaning "pointed stone," formed from the words itá ("stone") and atîaîa ("pointed").
History
Itatiaia's current territory was originally inhabited by the Tupi, Purí, and Coroado indigenous tribes. The first Europeans arrived in the region in the 17th century, most being bandeirantes in search of gold.[6][7] The demand for gold trade routes from Minas Gerais to the ports of Angra dos Reis and Parati encouraged expeditions over the Mantiqueira mountain range through what are now the municipalities of Mauá and Itatiaia.[6]
With the shuttering of the region's gold mines, the district's landowners transitioned to sugarcane and coffee farming. One of the municipality's largest such farms was owned by politician Irineu Evangelista de Sousa.[8] The farm's lands are now part of Itatiaia National Park, its forests having been preserved due to Sousa's avoidance of coffee monoculture farming methods.[6]
In 1832, a justice of the peace and notary public were installed in the district. On April 5, 1839, what is now Itatiaia was officially split off from the municipality of Resende and given the name Campo Belo ("Beautiful Field"). That same year, the district's first ecclesiastical curate was installed.[6]
On December 31, 1943, the district's name was changed from Campo Belo to Itatiaia.[6]
The district of Itatiaia was elevated to the status of municipality on July 6, 1988.[6]
