Caratinga
Sign in to saveCaratinga is a Brazilian municipality located in the countryside of the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Situated in the Vale do Rio Doce, it is part of the Vale do Aço metropolitan area, approximately east of the state capital, Belo Horizonte. The municipality covers an area of , with in the urban area, and its population was estimated at 90,687 inhabitants in 2024.
Key facts
- Settlement.name
- Caratinga
- Settlement.settlement_type
- Municipality
- Settlement.official_name
- Municipality of Caratinga
- Settlement.image_flag
- Bandeira Caratinga.png
- Settlement.image_seal
- Brasão Caratinga.png
- Settlement.anthem
- Anthem of the Municipality of Caratinga
- Settlement.pushpin_map
- Brazil Minas Gerais#Brazil
- Settlement.subdivision_type
- Country
- Settlement.subdivision_type1
- Region
- Settlement.subdivision_type2
- State
- Settlement.subdivision_name1
- Southeast
- Settlement.subdivision_type3
- Metropolitan area
- Settlement.subdivision_name3
- Vale do Aço
- Settlement.subdivision_type4
- Neighboring municipalities
- Settlement.subdivision_name4
- Bom Jesus do Galho, Bugre, Entre Folhas, Iapu, Imbé de Minas, Inhapim, Ipaba, Ipanema, Ipatinga, Piedade de Caratinga, Raul Soares, Santa Bárbara do Leste, Santa Rita de Minas, Santana do Paraíso, Simonésia, Timóteo, Ubaporanga, and Vargem Alegre.
- Settlement.leader_title
- Mayor
- Settlement.leader_name
- Giovanni Correa da Silva
- Settlement.leader_party
- PL
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
33 sectionsContents
- History
- Exploration and colonization
- Emancipation and administrative development
- Urban consolidation and recent history
- Geography
- Topography and hydrography
- Climate
- Ecology and environment
- Environmental issues
- Demographics
- Indicators and inequality
- Ethnicities and religion
- Politics and administration
- Subdivisions
- Economy
- Agribusiness
- Economy
- Industry and services
- Infrastructure
- Healthcare
- Education
- Housing, services, and communications
- Security and crime
- Transportation
- Culture
- Cultural events and spaces
- Landmarks and attractions
- Sports
- Holidays
- See also
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Caratinga is a Brazilian municipality located in the countryside of the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Situated in the Vale do Rio Doce, it is part of the Vale do Aço metropolitan area, approximately east of the state capital, Belo Horizonte. The municipality covers an area of , with in the urban area, and its population was estimated at 90,687 inhabitants in 2024.
The exploration of the region began in the 16th century with expeditions along the Doce and Caratinga rivers in search of precious metals. However, the area was first settled in the 19th century when Domingos Fernandes Lana explored it for ipecac, a valuable medicinal plant, and reported on the fertile lands and peaceful indigenous population. Subsequently, João Caetano do Nascimento, a friend of Lana, led an expedition to the region, claimed the land, and dedicated it to Saint John, officially founding the settlement on 24 June 1848, in honor of the saint's feast day.