Unaí

This page is about the city in Brazil. For the mountain pass in Hindu Kush, see Unai Pass.
Unaí
Municipality
Município de Unaí
Municipality of Unaí

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Localization of Unaí in Minas Gerais
Unaí

Localization of Unaí in Brazil

Coordinates: 16°21′50″S 46°54′15″W / 16.36389°S 46.90417°W / -16.36389; -46.90417Coordinates: 16°21′50″S 46°54′15″W / 16.36389°S 46.90417°W / -16.36389; -46.90417
Country  Brazil
Region Southeast
State Minas Gerais
Founded December 30, 1943
Government
 • Mayor Delvito Alves da Silva Filho (PTB)
(2013-2016)
Area
 • Total 10,727,460 km2 (4,141,900 sq mi)
Elevation 575 m (1,886 ft)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 74,495
 • Density 7.92/km2 (20.5/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Unaiense
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-2 (UTC-2)
Postal Code (CEP) 38610-000
Area code(s) +55 38
Website www.prefeituraunai.mg.gov.br

Unaí is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

History

In the municipality of Unai, there is the archaeological site Cave Gentile II, which records traces of hunter-gatherer peoples of more than 10,000 years, and gardeners people of almost 4000 years, they grew, according abundant plant remains: Corn , peanuts, pumpkin and gourd. In the city, it has the record of the oldest Brazilian ceramics outside the Amazon, dated 3500 years.

At the time of arrival of the first Europeans to Brazil, the central portion of Brazil was occupied by indigenous Macro-Ge linguistic trunk, as acroás, the xacriabás, the Xavante, the Kayapo, the Javaés, among others povos.

Over the centuries XVI, XVII and XVIII, numerous expeditions composed of Portuguese descent (called Scouts) swept the region in search of gold, precious stones and hand indigenous slave labor.

In the nineteenth century, the farmer Domingos Pinto Brochado settled, along with their families, in an area near the Rio Preto called White Grass. In 1873, the village was elevated to the rank of belonging to Paracatu district, with Rio Preto name. In 1923, the district was renamed to Unai, which is a translation for the Tupi language, the ancient name of the district, Rio Preto. In 1943, Unai emancipated the city of Paracatu.

On January 28, 2004, three labor inspectors and the driver who led them were murdered in a rural area of the municipality during an inspection on farms in the region, a crime that became known nationally as the Slaughter of Unai

Geography

Situated in the middle region of the Northwest of Minas Gerais and in the micro region of Unai, has an area of 8492 km square, representing 1.443 percent of the state, 0.9155 percent of the Southeast region of Brazil and 0.0996 percent of all Brazilian territory. Its estimated population in 2013 was 81,693 inhabitants.

Among the main geographical features are the following:

Great emphasis can be given to the Waterfall Jiboia, which is located about fifty miles Unai. The waterfall is formed by the Ribeirão Jiboia and has approximately 140 meters of free fall. Unai resists droughts that occur every year, thanks to the river Rio Preto containing a vast forest reserve around.

Location

Unai is located southeast of the Federal District and is linked thereto by the BR-251 highway, which also connects with BR 040 at Paracatu. The Rio Preto, which flows out of Lagoa Feia near Formosa and joins the Paracatu Rio, passes by the city. Neighboring municipalities are: Buritis, Cabeceira Grande, Paracatu, Dom Bosco, Natalândia, Bonfinópolis de Minas, Uruana de Minas, Arinos, Brasilândia de Minas, and João Pinheiro.[2]

Unaí is also the seat of a microregion (number 64) composed of 9 cities with an area of 27,653.10 km² and a population of 133,168 inhabitants. Cities making up the microregion of Unaí are Arinos, Bonfinópolis de Minas, Buritis, Cabeceira Grande, Dom Bosco, Formoso, Natalândia, Unaí, and Uruana de Minas.

Economy

The region has experienced rapid development in recent years after the building of Brasília and the opening up of the cerrado soils to cultivation of soybeans and irrigated rice. There are large herds of cattle—305,000 head (35,000 milking cows)--and extensive plantations of corn, beans, soybeans, sorghum, and rice. The main agricultural products in planted area in 2006 were oranges, passion fruit, cotton, garlic, rice, beans, corn, soybeans, sorghum, and wheat. There were 8 banks: Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Caixa Federal de Depósitos, HSBC, Itaú, Mercantil, Crediunai, and Crediparnor.

PLanted area of main crops in 2006

Farm data for 2006

Health and education

There are six university education institutions in the city:

Municipal Human Development Index

Culture

The city is rich in theater groups and libraries, including the municipal library of the city, which has one of the greatest literary achievements of the State of Minas Gerais. There is a museum and also a cinema in the city.

Theaters:

Libraries:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Estimativas das Populações Residentes, em 01.07.2006, Segundo os Municípios" (PDF) (in Portuguese). IBGE. Retrieved 2006-09-01.
  2. ↑ Prefeitura de Unaí
  3. 1 2 3 IBGE
  4. ↑ Frigoletto
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