Araxá

Quality 0.50 · 2 views · Updated 2 months ago

title: "Araxá" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["municipalities-in-minas-gerais", "populated-places-established-in-1791", "populated-places-established-in-the-18th-century"] topic_path: "general/municipalities-in-minas-gerais" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araxá" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
nameAraxá
official_nameMunicipality of Araxá
settlement_typeMunicipality
image_skyline{{multiple image
image1Com apoio da Lei Rouanet, Fliaraxá recebe ministro da Cultura e promove debate sobre o incentivo (38560724111).jpg
image2Araxá vista do Alto.jpg
image3Araxa2.jpg
image4Beija.JPG
image5Praca araxa.JPG
image6Cristo araxa.JPG
image7Panorama Grande Hotel Araxa.jpg
image_flagAraxámgbandeira.jpg
image_shieldAraxámgbrasao.png
image_mapMinasGerais_Municip_Araxa.svg
map_captionLocation of Araxá
pushpin_mapBrazil
pushpin_map_captionLocation of Araxá
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_type2State
subdivision_nameBrazil
subdivision_name2Minas Gerais
leader_titleMayor
leader_nameRobson Magela (CIDADANIA) (2025-2028)
established_titleFoundation
established_dateOctober 20, 1791
area_total_km21165.169
population_as_of2022
population_total111,691
population_density_km2auto
timezoneBRT
utc_offset−3
coordinates
elevation_m973
blank_nameHDI (2010)
blank_info0.772 – high{{Cite web
::

| name = Araxá | official_name = Municipality of Araxá | settlement_type = Municipality | image_skyline = {{multiple image|total_width=300px|perrow=2/2/2|border=infobox | image1 = Com apoio da Lei Rouanet, Fliaraxá recebe ministro da Cultura e promove debate sobre o incentivo (38560724111).jpg | image2 = Araxá vista do Alto.jpg | image3 = Araxa2.jpg | image4 = Beija.JPG | image5 = Praca araxa.JPG | image6 = Cristo araxa.JPG | image7 = Panorama Grande Hotel Araxa.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = | nickname = | motto = | image_flag = Araxámgbandeira.jpg | image_shield = Araxámgbrasao.png | image_map = MinasGerais_Municip_Araxa.svg | map_caption = Location of Araxá | pushpin_map = Brazil | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Araxá | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_type2 = State | subdivision_name = Brazil | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_name2 = Minas Gerais | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | parts_type = | parts_style = | leader_title = Mayor | leader_name = Robson Magela (CIDADANIA) (2025-2028) | established_title = Foundation | established_date = October 20, 1791 | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 1165.169 | area_total_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2022 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 111,691 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = BRT | utc_offset = −3 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_m = 973 | elevation_ft = | population_demonym = | blank_name = HDI (2010) | blank_info = 0.772 – high{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708233352/http://www.pnud.org.br/arquivos/ranking-idhm-2010.pdf |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2013 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) | website = | footnotes = Araxá () is a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is located approximately 370 kilometers (230 miles) northwest of the state capital Belo Horizonte, with an area of 1283 km2, and 3.45 sqkm designated as the urban perimeter. As of 2022, the population is 111,691.

It serves as the main city of the Immediate Geographic Region of Araxá, which includes 8 municipalities and as of 2017, spans an area of 9,473.902 square kilometers (3,659.27 square miles) with a population of 176,736 inhabitants.

Toponymy

The name "Araxá" was derived from the Araxás, an amerindian tribe that inhabited the region prior to the European colonization of Brazil, and means "the place where the sun is seen first," or, according to its Tupi origin, "elevated place" or "plateau".

Araxó, an extinct Jê language, was once spoken in the region.

History

The earliest accounts of the region date back to the second half of the 16th century, when the first encounters with the indigenous people known as the "Araxás" occurred. The Araxás were a native group reportedly led by a warrior named Andaia-Aru, who had separated from their original tribe, known as the "Cataguases". They settled in the extensive region that includes the Serra da Canastra and the Rio Grande, living in relative peace until the mid-17th century, when European settlers arrived, lured by the area's lush forests and abundant mineral waters.

Interactions between the European settlers and the native population were characterized by frequent conflicts, culminating in the extermination of the Araxá people by the settlers following a bandeira expedition led by Campo Inácio Correia de Pamplona (1731–1810), under the colonial administration of the time. Subsequently, much of the region came under the control of the Captaincy of Minas Gerais, which served as the local administrative division of colonial Brazil.

The first farm owners began to establish themselves in the region around 1770. As settlements grew, the area was designated as a parish in 1791, taking the name "São Domingos de Araxá", in honor of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers.

In 1831, São Domingos de Araxá was elevated to the status of a "vila" (town), and it was granted city status on December 19, 1865, due to its local development. The name "Araxá" was officially adopted three years later, in 1868, and has remained in use to this day.

Geography

Araxa is bordered by the neighboring municipalities of Perdizes to the north and northwest, Ibiá to the east, Tapira to the south, and Sacramento to the southwest.

The elevation of the city center is 973 m. The highest point in the municipality is Serrra da Bocaina at 1359 m, and the lowest point is the Capivara river at 910 m. In 2004 the annual average temperature was 20.98 °C, and the annual rainfall was 1905 mm.

Climate

Araxá experiences a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) with warm temperatures and distinct wet and dry seasons.

The city experiences a wet season from November to April. The dry season extends from May to September, and experiences cooler temperatures than the wet season.{{Weather box | width = auto | collapsed = yes | metric first = yes | single line = yes | location = Araxá (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present) |Jan record high C = 34.9 |Feb record high C = 35.2 |Mar record high C = 34.3 |Apr record high C = 32.4 |May record high C = 31.1 |Jun record high C = 30.1 |Jul record high C = 31.5 |Aug record high C = 33.5 |Sep record high C = 36.4 |Oct record high C = 37.2 |Nov record high C = 34.7 |Dec record high C = 34.3 |Jan record low C = 9.7 |Feb record low C = 10.9 |Mar record low C = 10.5 |Apr record low C = 5.4 |May record low C = 2.1 |Jun record low C = 0.5 |Jul record low C = 1.6 |Aug record low C = 4.5 |Sep record low C = 8.1 |Oct record low C = 7.9 |Nov record low C = 7.2 |Dec record low C = 8.6 | Jan high C = 28.3 | Feb high C = 28.8 | Mar high C = 28.1 | Apr high C = 27.8 | May high C = 26.0 | Jun high C = 25.3 | Jul high C = 25.5 | Aug high C = 27.6 | Sep high C = 29.0 | Oct high C = 29.4 | Nov high C = 27.9 | Dec high C = 28.1 | year high C = 27.7 | Jan mean C = 22.6 | Feb mean C = 22.7 | Mar mean C = 22.2 | Apr mean C = 21.6 | May mean C = 19.6 | Jun mean C = 18.7 | Jul mean C = 18.7 | Aug mean C = 20.3 | Sep mean C = 21.9 | Oct mean C = 22.8 | Nov mean C = 22.1 | Dec mean C = 22.3 | year mean C = 21.3 | Jan low C = 19.0 | Feb low C = 18.9 | Mar low C = 18.6 | Apr low C = 17.6 | May low C = 15.1 | Jun low C = 14.3 | Jul low C = 14.1 | Aug low C = 15.2 | Sep low C = 17.0 | Oct low C = 18.3 | Nov low C = 18.2 | Dec low C = 18.7 | year low C = 17.1 | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation mm = 294.0 | Feb precipitation mm = 227.1 | Mar precipitation mm = 206.8 | Apr precipitation mm = 80.7 | May precipitation mm = 48.6 | Jun precipitation mm = 17.0 | Jul precipitation mm = 7.0 | Aug precipitation mm = 11.8 | Sep precipitation mm = 60.6 | Oct precipitation mm = 118.0 | Nov precipitation mm = 210.3 | Dec precipitation mm = 285.5 | year precipitation mm = 1567.4 | unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm | Jan precipitation days = 16.8 | Feb precipitation days = 13.7 | Mar precipitation days = 14.2 | Apr precipitation days = 7.4 | May precipitation days = 3.7 | Jun precipitation days = 1.8 | Jul precipitation days = 1.2 | Aug precipitation days = 1.5 | Sep precipitation days = 5.4 | Oct precipitation days = 9.3 | Nov precipitation days = 14.0 | Dec precipitation days = 18.2 | year precipitation days = 107.2 | Jan humidity = 79.3 | Feb humidity = 77.7 | Mar humidity = 79.3 | Apr humidity = 75.6 | May humidity = 72.9 | Jun humidity = 69.6 | Jul humidity = 63.6 | Aug humidity = 57.5 | Sep humidity = 59.6 | Oct humidity = 67.0 | Nov humidity = 76.6 | Dec humidity = 80.4 | year humidity = 71.6 | Jan dew point C = 19.1 | Feb dew point C = 19.0 | Mar dew point C = 18.9 | Apr dew point C = 17.8 | May dew point C = 15.2 | Jun dew point C = 13.8 | Jul dew point C = 12.5 | Aug dew point C = 12.3 | Sep dew point C = 14.1 | Oct dew point C = 16.6 | Nov dew point C = 18.2 | Dec dew point C = 19.1 | year dew point C = 16.4 | Jan sun = 156.7 | Feb sun = 177.1 | Mar sun = 180.1 | Apr sun = 220.2 | May sun = 224.1 | Jun sun = 229.0 | Jul sun = 250.3 | Aug sun = 264.2 | Sep sun = 219.5 | Oct sun = 206.2 | Nov sun = 168.1 | Dec sun = 149.2 | year sun = 2444.7 | source 1 = NOAA{{cite web |url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Brazil/CSV/ARAXA_83579.csv |title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Araxá |publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date = January 29, 2024}} |source 2 = National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) (temperature records: 01/01/1948-31/12/1950, 02/03/1971–present)

Demographics

|25=1970|26=35676 |27=1980|28=53404 |29=1991|30=65911 |31=2000|32=78997 |33=2010|34=93071 |35=2020|36=107337 |footnote=Source: IBGE

Ethnic composition

::data[format=table]

Indigenous0.07%77
::

Source: IBGE 2022

Transport

Araxá is served by Romeu Zema Airport (IATA: AAX, ICAO: SBAX), located 4 km from the city center.

The city's railway station was inaugurated in 1926 by Estrada de Ferro Oeste de Minas (EFOM). The branch line now serves for only cargo transport and connects the city with the municipalities of Ibiá and Uberaba. Passenger rail services were discontinued in 1979.

The municipality is connected by federal and state highways:

  • BR 262 – Belo Horizonte/Vitória/Corumbá
  • MG 428 – Rifaina/Franca
  • BR 452 – Uberlândia/Tupaciguara

Distances to other cities

Economic activities

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Grande_Hotel_Araxá.jpg" caption="The Grande Hotel Termas de Araxá, located in the Barreiro Complex."] ::

The economy is based on tourism, services, mining, industry, and some agriculture.

Araxá is famous in Brazil for its spa with medicinal mud and mineral waters. One of Brazil's most emblematic hotels, the Grande Hotel, is the center of attraction. Opened in 1944 by governor Benedito Valadares and President Vargas, the Hotel initiated an era of splendor to Araxá and the inland region of the state. It was the stage for huge social, political and cultural events. Overall, the city's hotel sector has 24 establishments offering 2,708 beds (2004). One of Brazil's most famous soap operas, Dona Beija, loosely based on the life of a legendary historic character of the city, was filmed here.

In addition to tourism, the city has a niobium mine. That metal is used in special steels and alloys for jet engine components, rocket sub-assemblies, and heat-resisting and combustion equipment. Reserves are about 460 million tons, sufficient to satisfy current world demand for about 500 years. The largest enterprise in this sector is CBMM—Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração.

Araxá is also a major producer of phosphate concentrate, essential for the production of fertilizers. The most important company in this sector is Vale Fertilizantes S.A., which was acquired by The Mosaic Company in 2018, and operates the largest single superphosphate production plant in Brazil.

In 2005, Araxá recorded a GDP of 1.439 billion Brazilian reais, generated almost equally by the services and industry sectors. During the same period, the workforce included 2,865 employees in industry, 1,478 in construction, 7,636 in commerce, 1,296 in restaurants and hotels, and 2,691 in public administration. The municipality contained 405 rural properties covering a total of 68,000 hectares (170,000 acres). Approximately 1,500 individuals were employed in agriculture. The livestock population comprised 65,000 head of cattle, primarily used for dairy production, with an estimated daily output of 500,000 litres (130,000 US gallons) in 2004. In addition, there was significant production of poultry and swine, and 22 producers of cachaça were registered in 2004. The main agricultural crops included coffee, corn, and soybeans. As of 2021, Araxá reported a GDP of 8.951 billion Brazilian reais, ranking 163rd in Brazil and a GDP per capita of R$ 82.570,25.

Health and education

In the health sector there were 17 health clinics and 4 hospitals with 244 beds (2005). There were also 6 clinical analysis laboratories and 34 pharmacies. Two of the hospitals were private, and two were philanthropic. The educational needs of 10,500 students were met by 33 primary schools, 11 middle schools, and 40 pre-primary schools. In higher education, there were two institutions: Centro Universitário Planalto de Araxá, and, Universidade do Triângulo Mineiro (UNIT).

In 2004, the healthcare statistics indicated a ratio of one doctor for every 598 inhabitants and an availability of 3.5 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants. The infant mortality rate stood at 8.70 deaths per 1,000 live births in the same year, significantly lower than both the state and national averages. For comparison, the infant mortality rate was recorded at 20.80 deaths per 1,000 live births in the year 2000.

  • Municipal Human Development Index: 0.799 (2000)
  • State ranking: 40 out of 853 municipalities as of 2000
  • National ranking: 579 out of 5,138 municipalities as of 2000
  • Literacy rate: 93%
  • Life expectancy: 70 (average of males and females)

In 2023, Araxá ranked 3rd in Minas Gerais and 38th in Brazil for access to education. In the same year, there were 38 schools in the city serving 13,487 elementary school students and 14 schools educating 4,182 high school students.

References

References

  1. [https://g1.globo.com/mg/triangulo-mineiro/eleicoes/2024/noticia/2024/12/31/prefeito-de-araxa-mg-toma-posse-nesta-quarta-1o-veja-lista-de-vereadores-eleitos.ghtml Prefeito de Araxa, MG]
  2. (December 8, 2017). "Histórico".
  3. [https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/mg/araxa/panorama IBGE 2022]
  4. (2018). "Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics".
  5. "Araxá (MG) {{!}} Cities and States {{!}} IBGE".
  6. "Divisões Regionais do Brasil {{!}} IBGE".
  7. link. (June 5, 2013)
  8. Loukotka, Čestmír. (1968). "Classification of South American Indian languages". UCLA Latin American Center.
  9. (2024-09-04). "Araxá - dr. Pintassilgo - Migalhas".
  10. "Araxá { History }".
  11. [http://www.araxa.mg.gov.br/InformaticoSocEconomico.pdf Prefeitura de Araxá] {{webarchive. link. (December 21, 2008)
  12. "Banco de dados meteorológicos". [[Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia]] (INMET).
  13. (2023-12-22). "Censo 2022: veja quais são os municípios mais amarelos, brancos, indígenas, pardos e pretos do Brasil".
  14. "IBGE {{!}} Biblioteca".
  15. "Mosaic completed acquisition of Vale Fertilizantes {{!}} Highlight {{!}} Chambers and Partners".
  16. [http://www.ibge.gov.br/cidadesat/default.php IBGE] {{webarchive. link. (June 11, 2008)
  17. "Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios {{!}} IBGE".
  18. [http://www.araxa.mg.gov.br/ Prefeitura municipal de Araxá]
  19. [http://www.frigoletto.com.br/GeoEcon/idhmg.htm Frigoletto] {{webarchive. link. (2011-07-06)
  20. "Ranking coloca Araxá como a 38ª cidade com melhor acesso a educação do Brasil e a 3ª em Minas Gerais – Jornal Araxá".
  21. "Araxá-IBGE".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

municipalities-in-minas-geraispopulated-places-established-in-1791populated-places-established-in-the-18th-century