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Natal
View of Natal
Flag Seal
Nickname: "the city of the sun"
Location of Natal
Country	Brazil
Region	Northeast
State	Rio Grande do Norte
Founded	25 December 1599
Government
- Mayor	Carlos Eduardo(PSB)
Area
- City	170.298 km² (65.8 sq mi)
Elevation	30 m (98 ft)
Population (2006)
- City	789.896
- Density	4.638.3/km² (12/sq mi)
- Metro	1.240.734
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC)
HDI (2000)	0.788 – medium
Website: Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Natal (pronounced [naˈtaw]) is the capital city of Rio Grande do Norte, a north eastern state in Brazil. As of the IBGE 2006, the city had a total population of 789.896.

The implementation of the Coastal Highway, a 8 km (4.9 mi) long avenue along the shore, was the true starting point for the beginning of tourist activity in the State in the 1980s. That is where the main hotels and restaurants of the capital city, Natal, are concentrated. Improvements in tourist infrastructure and conservation of the natural heritage are some of the actions given priority ever since by the state government. One of the highlights was the creation of the Dune State Park, which aims to preserve the chain of sand dunes that surround the city. And thus, Natal became the entry gate to the beautiful beaches of the State of Rio Grande do Norte. Many of them are still semi-wild, such as Pipa and Pirangi; and others are the liveliest, such as Genipabu and Tibau do Sul.

The Augusto Severo International Airport connects Natal with many Brazilian cities and also operates some international flights.

The city is home to the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte.

Natal is located at 5°46′S, 35°12′W, in the far east of South America. The city has a total area of 170 km². Natal lies on the Atlantic Ocean, at the mouth of the Potengi river.

Natal has a typical tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity all throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by a near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. January is the warmest month, with mean maxima of 32°C (89.6°F) and minima of 22°C (71.6°F) and sun; July experiences the coldest temperatures, with mean maxima of 27°C (80.6°F) and minima of 17°C (62.6°F) and rain.

Natal has a Tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 mm (about 78 inches or 2 meters) and 1700 mm (about 67 inches). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. There are several common characteristics of tropical rainforest trees. Tropical rainforest species frequently possess one or more attributes not commonly seen in trees of higher latitudes or trees in drier conditions on the same latitude.

The Prefeitura (city hall). This building inspired the colour scheme used for the entrance to the Santuário Ecológico, in nearby Pipa.

Forte dos Reis Magos, in Natal.

Luís da Câmara Cascudo.

Old cathedral.

The northeastern tip of South America, Cabo São Roque, 20 miles to the north of Natal and the closest point to Europe from Latin America, was first visited by European navigators in 1501, in the 1501-1502 Portuguese expedition led by Amerigo Vespucci, who named the spot after the saint of the day. For decades thereafter, no permanent European settlement was established in the area, inhabited by the Potiguar tribe.

In 1597, after some years during which French pirates, led by Jacques Riffault, established regular commercial activities with the native population, the ninth Portuguese Governor-General of Brazil, Francisco de Sousa, ordered the expulsion of the buccaneers. The successful expedition was led by the Captain-Major of the Captaincy of Pernambuco, Manuel de Mascarenhas Homem, with the assistance of Jerônimo de Albuquerque Maranhão.

Albuquerque Maranhão began on January 6, 1598 the construction of the Fort of the Holy Kings or of the Magi-Kings ("Forte dos Santos Reis" or "Forte dos Reis Magos"), named after the Three Wise Men, honored in the Christian feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on that day.

On December 25, 1599, Natal (whose name means Nativity or Christmas in Portuguese) was established as a village outside the fort. The fort, city, and surrounding areas were occupied by Dutch forces from 1633 to 1654.

The sandy soil of Natal prevented the city from becoming a producer of sugarcane, during the colonial times. For centuries, the economy of the State was based on the raising of cattle in the dry interior lands; the cattle was sent alive to the larger centers, to be used as traction, or was turned into jerked beef, to be used as food; the most typical food of Natal, "carne de sol" (sun meat), has origins in that jerked beef.

Last century, Natal benefited from the growth of the industries of salt (the north of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer in Brazil) and petroleum (the largest inland Brazilian reserves are in the State). Natal grew quickly, but in a somewhat planned way (compared to other major Brazilian cities); transit flows smoothly, public services are well distributed, ecologic conscience is visible; violence levels are low. Tourists (first Brazilians, more recently foreigners) discovered the city, which became one of the major tourist destinations in Brazil.

Because of its strategic position (Natal is one of the cities in Brazil nearest to Western Europe and Africa, especially Dakar, Senegal), an American air base was built in a suburb of Natal named Parnamirim during World War II as part of the so-called Operation Rainbow; this base provided support for allied troops combating in the north of Africa. Thousands of American soldiers were sent to Natal, and their presence left traces in the culture of the city.

Ponta Negra at night.

With its dozens of sandy, white beaches, such as Ponta Negra and its famous Morro do Careca, Tabatinga - the cliff of dolphins, Pirangi, Redinha, and Jenipabu with its famous fixed sand dunes and imported dromedaries, tourism is the most important industry of Natal, attracting Brazilians, Europeans (many from Germany, Portugal and Italy), and Americans alike. It is also a relevant administrative center for the oil industry (Rio Grande do Norte being the second largest oil-producing state in Brazil). The fishing industry is strong (shark cartilage being a major export to Japan) as is the cultivation of tropical fruit, especially mangos, guavas, and cashews (the fruit and the nuts). In fact, the largest cashew tree in the world is located near the coast in the neighborhood of Pirangi, south of the city center. This tree has a circumference of 500 metres and occupies an area of 7,300m², making it 70 times the size of average cashew trees.

The GDP for the city was R$ 5.778.300.000 (2004).^[1]

The per capita income for the city was R$ 7.543 (2004).^[2]

Vehicles: 186.616 (jun./2006); Daily newspapers: 3 (jul./2006); Established: 12/25/1599.

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum.

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, in Natal.

Natal has a Federal University (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN), a state University (Universidade do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte - UERN), and a private University ( Universidade Potiguar - UnP). The Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica do Rio Grande do Norte - CEFET-RN (Federal Center for Technological Education of Rio Grande do Norte) is an institution linked to the Ministry of Education and its aim is to instruct and to qualify professionals in the several levels and modalities of education, for the different sectors of economy. In Natal, there are also several private colleges such as FATERN-Gama FIlho, FAL, FANEC, Faculdade Câmara Cascudo, FACEN, FACEX, FARN, and Faculdade Católica Nossa Senhora das Neves.

Fireworks in Saint John Festival.

Festa Junina was introduced to Northeastern Brazil by the Portuguese for whom St John's day (also celebrated as Midsummer Day in several European countries), on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. Differently, of course, from what happens on the European Midsummer Day, the festivities in Brazil do not take place during the summer solstice but during the tropical winter solstice. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of St Anthony's day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter's day. During these fifteen days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing in the streets. Once exclusively a rural festivity, today, in Brazil, it is largely a city festival during which people joyfully and theatrically mimic peasant stereotypes and clichés, all in good fun and high spirits. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, as during Carnival, these festivities involve wearing costumes (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Similar to what happens on Midsummer and St John's Day in Europe, bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil.

The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is carnival time in Brazil. Rich and poor alike forget their cares as they party in the streets.

Augusto Severo International Airport.

Located virtually at sea level (169 feet), with favorable weather and geographic conditions, Augusto Severo International Airport in Parnamirim is 18 kilometers from Natal (RN). It takes its name from Augusto Severo de Albuquerque Maranhão, a native son of that state who died in an accident in France in 1902. The airport has a total area of 11.3 thousand square meters and capacity for 1.2 million passengers a year. The installations and passenger terminals are air conditioned with equipment that can put out 630 tons of cooled air. With an area of 5.5 million square meters, the airport complex operates with 16,482 square meters of passenger and cargo terminals and administrative and maintenance installations. There are 6,224 meters of runways and 61.5 square meters of apron space, providing connections from the greater Natal region to the main centers of the world. The airport is the only one in the Northeast Region to receive charter flights from Scandinavia and England.

Natal is connected to the main cities of Brazil by the BR-101.

The Port of Natal is specialized in cold storage cargo such as fruit, fish and shrimp, among others. It has its own customs facilities and is connected to Europe by direct navigation lines, mainly to the ports of Vigo, Rotterdam and Sheerness, which allows great agility and reduced costs for the shipment of your products. Besides having a modern infrastructure, competitive prices and qualified professionals, the access to the management of the Port is easy, meaning less bureaucracy for your transactions.

Alberto Maranhão theatre.

A Rampa, view of Pontegi river.

Reis Magos, in Natal.

Natal at night.

Potengi river.

North Zone

• Potengi
• Redinha
• Pajuçara
• Igapó
• Panatis
• Santa Catarina
• Parque dos Coqueiros
• Alvorada
• Nossa Senhora da Apresentação
• Vale Dourado
• Nova Natal
• Salinas
• Lagoa Azul

East Zone

• Cidade Alta
• Petrópolis
• Tirol
• Alecrim
• Ribeira
• Rocas
• Barro Vermelho
• Santos Reis
• Praia do Meio
• Areia Preta
• Mãe Luíza

West Zone

• Quintas
• Nordeste
• Dix-Sept Rosado
• Bom Pastor
• Nossa Senhora de Nazaré
• Cidade da Esperança
• Cidade Nova
• Planalto
• Km 6
• Felipe Camarão
• Guarapes

South Zone

• Ponta Negra
• Lagoa Nova
• Capim Macio
• Candelária
• Neópolis
• Nova Descoberta
• Jiqui
• Pirangi
• Pitimbú

• Córdoba, Argentina
• Porto Alegre, Brazil

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