Last modified: 2008-12-20 by ian macdonald
Keywords: rio de janeiro | belford roxo |
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image by Marcio Trocado, 8 October 2008
Belford Roxo (Portuguese for "Purple Belfort") is a part of the Metropolitan
Region of Rio de Janeiro. Its population is now around 495,000 persons (2008)
and its area is 79 km². Its climate is tropical with an average temperature of
20ºC. It's one of the coolest and richest cities in the state. Some industries
are located there, for example the German chemical industry Bayer and the
Lubrizol are the biggest companies in the municipality. Unfortunately it doesn't
reflect on the social conditions for most of population. The crime statistics
are high in this city, as in the rest of Metropolitan Region, its HDI is 0,870,
and its GPD is 2.989.323.000 USD.
Belford Roxo became a City in April 3rd
1993, before it belonged to another municipality, Nova Iguaçu
as a district. The first white men arrived on the region in 1666, and for more
than 200 years only we could find over there some big farms for coffee and sugar
cane plantations. During the year of 1888 a great drought was destroying the
plantations and also causing a lack of potable water in the city of Rio de
Janeiro, Empire of Brazil Court in that time. By the efforts of two dedicated
engineers Paulo de Frontin and Raimundo Teixeira Belford Roxo in 6 days
15,000,000 litres of water were diverted from some water sources in the region
ending the drought and saving the economy on the region. This episode nowadays
is known as the O Milagre das Águas ("the water miracle"). Unfortunately, Mr.
Belford Roxo died one year later, but he was never forgotten. Due to the decline
of the plantations, since the 2nd half of 19th century, the region was
abandoned. When Rio de Janeiro started its industrial development, mainly during
the 2nd half of 20th century, many workers and their families found there
cheaper lots to built their homes and its population increased quickly.
Source (in part:
www.belfordroxo.rj.org.br)
Marcio Trocado, 8 October 2008
Belford Roxo is a municipality in the Metropolitan Region, with almost
500,000 inhabitants. The flag remembers the flags of Portuguese municipalities.
It is a blue-white gyronny of 8 with a centered arms (a 16-pointed star
containing a red heart).
André Pires Godinho, 20 August 2005
On the Belford Roxo flag we can see the state of Rio de Janeiro traditional
colors, white and blue, one head of wheat and two stars on each side and the
coat of arms on the middle. Inside the coat of arms we can see the red heart
representing the people. Belford Roxo is known as "A cidade do coração" ("the
city of heart"). In the banner we can read the city motto "Paz e Progresso"
("Peace and Progress"). The "BR" for the city name abbreviation, the chain
representing the union of the all, the name of city, the year of foundation
"1993" and four flags with the symbols: a red cross for "Health", an open book
for "Education", a house for "Dwelling policy" and a factory for "economy". To
be honest, I don´t know what means the wheat and the stars.
Marcio Trocado,
8 October 2008
image by André Pires Godinho, 20
August 2005
More of a Portuguese municipal style with a light blue and white gyronny and the city seal ce