São Lourenço

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São Lourenço
Coordinates: 22 ° 7 ′  S , 45 ° 3 ′  W
Map: Minas Gerais
marker
São Lourenço​
São Lourenço on the map of Minas Gerais
MinasGerais Municipality SaoLourenco.svg
Location of the municipality of São Lourenço in the state of Minas Gerais
Basic data
Country Brazil
State Minas Gerais
City foundation April 1, 1927
Residents 41,657  (IBGE / 2010)
City insignia
Brasao sao lourenco mg.jpg
Detailed data
surface 58.019
Population density 717.99 inhabitants / km 2
height 875  m
prefix 0055 35
Time zone UTC −3
Website www.saolourenco.mg.gov.br
São Lourenço - center and parks
São Lourenço - center and parks

São Lourenço is the district town and thermal baths on the Rio Verde in the south of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais and belongs to the “Circuito das Águas” (German: “Thermenstraße”) region. The place has an estimated population of 45,851 (as of 2019) inhabitants, an area of ​​58 km² and is one of the smallest municipalities in Brazil.

history

The first white man to enter the São Lourenço area was the Bandeirante Lourenço Castanho Tacques , after whom this place was named. He also found the mineral and thermal water spring in the nearby Serra de Mantiqueira. Industrial extraction of the water was approved on June 4, 1890 and since then the mineral water of the São Lorenço spring has been known far beyond the borders of Minas Gerais. The town and district of São Lourenço were given their current name in 1927.

climate

The city (town hall) is at an altitude of 875 m above sea ​​level , in the area of ​​the mild tropical high-altitude climate. The mean annual temperature is 18 ° C (in summer 22 ° C). In winter the temperature sometimes drops to 0 ° C. The resulting hoarfrost is an unusual and widely known curiosity for Brazil. When it rains heavily, there is occasional major flooding in the park and in deeper parts of the city center. The last one occurred in January 2000 when the water rose 4.5 m and flooded the whole center. After the water had drained, it was found that capibaras (water pigs ), which have become a popular tourist attraction, have settled on the island in the lake of the large park .

tourism

As one of the most important mineral baths in Brazil, São Lourenço attracts many visitors, mainly from the metropolises of Belo Horizonte , São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro . The beautiful location and the mineral springs make tourism the main source of income for the city. Numerous buses bring visitors into the city, especially on the weekends.

The healing springs

In the extensive park (370,000 m²) there is an artificially created lake (90,000 m²) with boat rental and the following eight mineral springs:

  • The Eastern Spring (Fonte Oriente) supplies fluorine and carbonated water that is prescribed for digestive problems. The water from this spring also supplies the sparkling and non-carbonated mineral water "São Lorenço", which is distributed nationwide by Nestlé Waters.
  • The Andrade Figuera spring also supplies fluorine and carbonated water
  • The Vichy spring with carbonated and iron-containing water in the same composition as the water from a spring in Vichy, France.
  • The spring spring (Fonte Primavera) also with carbonated and iron-containing water. This spring was taken over by Nestlé Waters in 1998, who then pumped water there for their “Pure Life” brand. In disregard of various laws, however, Nestlé pumped so much water out of the ground that it had serious consequences for the environment: the water park's water table has sunk, another nearby spring has completely dried up, the water park's spring buildings have cracked and that Water from various other sources has changed in taste.
  • The alkaline spring (Fonte Alcalina) also has carbonated and iron-containing water.
  • The Jaime Sotto Mayor spring with carbonated, iron and sulphurous water.
  • The José Carlos de Andrade spring with carbonated and lithium-containing water.
  • The New Spring Spring (Nova Fonte Primavera)

More Attractions

  • The train station from which the Maria Fumaça (Smoking Maria) steam train to Soledade de Minas departs every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
  • The Calçadão pedestrian street with many restaurants and shops.
  • The handicraft market Aldeia Vila Verde.
  • The Mirante panoramic mountain, which can be reached by chairlift.
  • Some interesting churches and chapels.

Web links

Commons : São Lourenço  - collection of images, videos and audio files