This article is about Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. You may be looking for Portalegre, Alentejo, Portugal.

Porto Alegre, one of the largest cities in southern Brazil, is the capital of Rio Grande do Sul State. Population: 1,416 million (2004).

The city is located at the conjunction of five rivers, among them the Guaíba River (actually a lake). Although its origins date from the early 1700s, the city was officially established in 1809.

Porto Alegre is a major industrial center for southern Brazil, and a key city for Mercosul. It also is a center for gaúcho (the popular name for natives of the State) history and culture, famous for its churrasco (grilled meat) and chimarrão (a strong tea prepared from erva mate (yerba mate). Several important Brazilian universities are located there.

External links

• Porto Alegre Mayor's Office (in Portuguese)