São Lourenço, Minas Gerais

São Lourenço (Saint Lawrence) is a Brazilian municipality and spa town in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, in the Southeast of the country. It is one of the smallest Brazilian municipalities, with only 57.2 km² (22.1 sq. mi), and is located at an equal distance - approximately 3.5h - from two major cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

São Lourenço
Municipality
The Municipality of São Lourenço
Flag
Seal
Motto(s): 
Acqua Vitæ Ignis Fidei
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 22°06′57″S 45°03′14″W
CountryBrazil
RegionSoutheast
StateMinas Gerais
MesoregionSouth and Southwest of Minas Gerais
MicroregionSão Lourenço
IncorporatedApril 1, 1927
Government
  MayorLeonardo de Barros Sanches
Area
  Total57.2 km2 (22.1 sq mi)
Elevation
875 m (2,871 ft)
Population
 (2020 [1])
  Total46,202
  Density583.3/km2 (1,511/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-3 (BST)
  Summer (DST)UTC-2 (BRST)
Postal Code
37470-000
HDI (2000)0.839 high
WebsiteSão Lourenço, Minas Gerais
City of São Lourenço, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

São Lourenço has a yearly mean temperature of 18 °C. In the winter the lows can reach 0 °C, sometimes with heavy frost.

The region has occasionally been affected by flooding; the most severe occurred in 1940, 1986, 1990 and 2000. In January 2000, heavy storms caused the waters of Rio Verde to rise more than 4.5m, leaving parts of the city underwater, including the city centre and the municipal park where the mineral water fountains are located.

Tourism is the main economic activity of the city although it has also become the regional hub for shopping, medical care, and banking. The city is served by Comte. Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Airport.

Throughout the year, several events take place in Sao Lourenço. They include the International Choir Festival, Cachaça Festival - cachaça is a hard liquor distilled from sugar cane juice, Winter Festival, Street Carnaval, Orchid Exhibits, Megacycle (a motorcyclists gathering), Vintage/Classic Cars Expo, a Hot Air Balloonists gathering, as well as several conferences of large Brazilian organizations.

In the beginning of August, the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint Lawrence, with a ten-day festival that includes live music, traditional food, and fireworks.

References

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