Boa Esperança, Minas Gerais

History

The municipality of Boa Esperança () came up with gold rush of the late 19th century. The first settlement was established in 1778, and in 1804 it was called 'Dores do Pântano (). In 1814 started the construction of the Church, and at that time arose the first coffee plantations, which marked a phase of wealth and progress for the parish. In 1866 the parish was elevated by provincial law to the status of village. On 15 November 1868, the seat of local government was built and the village was elevated by Provincial Law No. 1611 to the status of municipality. In 1957–1958, with the construction of the Furnas Dam and subsequently of the Furnas Lake, the town began to grow as a result of tourism.

Geography

Boa Esperança is located in the southern-tropical part of Brazil, at 21 degrees, 5 minutes, 24 second south, and 45 degrees, 33 minutes, 57 seconds west, at an altitude of 775 m, in the internal part of the State of Minas Gerais. It covers an area of 860.669 km2.

Climate

Situated on the southern outskirts of the tropical zone and under the influence of the high elevation of the region, the climate type is tropical mesothermal with an average annual rainfall of about 1,500 mm. The annual temperature is 19 C. Summer and spring are the hottest seasons with a maximum daily temperature ranging from 25 to. November, December, and January are the warmest months reaching 36 - and with a minimum temperature of 9 –.

Rivers

Grande River, a tributary of the Paraná River, Ribeirão São Pedro, Ribeirão das Três Pontas, Ribeirão Marimbondo, Ribeirão da Maricota. The Furnas Dam borders the municipality.

Fauna and flora

Boa Esperança is home to several species of birds such as darters, herons, roadside hawks, moorhens, lapwings, jabirus, kingfishers, and grassquits.

Among the mammals in the area there are capybara, brocket deer, monkey, fox, otter, paca, agouti, megabat, skunk, and others. Some of these species may have migrated from other areas.

In this area there are forests and araucarias rich in vegetation, including mimosa, cedrus, cinnamomum, sassafras, manilkara bidentata, morus, Hymenaea courbaril, copaiba, Swietenia macrophylla, and Balfourodendron riedelianum. In riparian forests there are croton, inga, and pine. Scattered trees, shrubs and sub-shrubs present Annona crassiflora, Stryphnodendron adstringens, Stenocalyx dysentericus, Tabebuia ochracea, Kielmeyera coriacea.

Demography

Its population in 2020 was 40,219 inhabitants.

Government and politics

• Mayor: Antonio Carlos Vilela (Workers' Party) (2013–2016)
• Mayor: Hideraldo Henrique Silva (PMDB) (2017–2020)
• Mayor: Hideraldo Henrique Silva (MDB) (2021–2024)
• Mayor: Aroldo Rosa De Medeiros Junior (Avante) (2025–2028)

Economy

Boa Esperança is an agro-pastoral Municipality. It produces grain, rice, garlic, potatoes, beans, maize, sugarcane, cassava, soybean, tomatoes, several species of fruit, and coffee. Coffee is the main product and it has a good level of production. It is consumed domestically and exported to other countries. Livestock, domestic pigs, and poultry are some of the oldest economic activities in the area. Trade, the "royalties" paid by Furnas Central Electric, and tourism are among the main activities of the tertiary sector.

Transport

• BR-369 highway
• MG-167

References

References

1. IBGE. (10 October 2002). "Área Territorial Brasileira – Consulta por Município – Resultados".
6. [https://cidades.ibge.gov.br/brasil/mg/boa-esperanca/panorama IBGE 2020]