Mariana

Mariana ( Portuguese: [maɾiˈɐ̃nə]) is a municipality in the Southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. As of 2022, the city had a population of 61,387, estimated to be at around 64,058 in 2024, making it the 59th most populous city in its state. Known for its characteristic colonial-style architecture, Mariana is the oldest settlement in Minas Gerais, as well as the first to be officially ordained with the status of "city", in the mid-18th century.

Situated along the lower contours of a river valley and surrounded by many rocky escarpments, Mariana has both historical and contemporary ties to the mining industry, having been founded on the very same spot where gold was first spotted by Portuguese explorers in the late 17th century. Although mining is largely responsible for the historical economic development of the region, the city of Mariana has also been at the centre of an unprecedented disaster brought about by the mining industry, with the 2015 Samarco levee rupture and floods.