Igaratá

Igaratá
Municipality

Location in São Paulo state
Igaratá

Location in Brazil

Coordinates: 23°12′16″S 46°9′22″W / 23.20444°S 46.15611°W / -23.20444; -46.15611Coordinates: 23°12′16″S 46°9′22″W / 23.20444°S 46.15611°W / -23.20444; -46.15611
Country  Brazil
Region Southeast Brazil
State São Paulo
Metropolitan Region Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte
Area
 • Total 292.95 km2 (113.11 sq mi)
Elevation 745 m (2,444 ft)
Population (2015)
 • Total 9,349
 • Density 32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zone BRT (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST) BRST (UTC-2)

Igaratá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte.[1] The population is 9,349 (2015 est.) in an area of 292.95 km².[2] The elevation is 745 m. This place name comes from the Tupi language.

Geography

Igaratá lies adjacent to the Igaratá reservoir, fed and drained by the Jaguari River. Aquatic sports and fishery are common practice among the locals and tourists.

The municipality contains part of the 292,000 hectares (720,000 acres) Mananciais do Rio Paraíba do Sul Environmental Protection Area, created in 1982 to protect the sources of the Paraíba do Sul river.[3]

Economy

Igaratá's economy is mainly based on agriculture, because of the fertile lands bordering the Jaguari Dam. Tourism is very important to the local economy, supporting handicraft work from the local people. Cattle are also very important, thanks to the grasslands of the São Paulo Highlands.

References

  1. ↑ Assembleia Legislativa do Estado de São Paulo, Lei Complementar Nº 1.166
  2. ↑ Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística
  3. ↑ Unidade de Conservação: Área de Proteção Ambiental Bacia Hidrográfica do Paraíba do Sul (in Portuguese), MMA: Ministério do Meio Ambiente, retrieved 2016-10-01
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