BAHIA
- BRAZIL |
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Bahia is a state in the north-east of Brazil.
As the chief locus of the early Brazilian slave trade, Bahia is
considered to possess the greatest and most distinctive African imprint,
in terms of culture and customs, in Brazil. These include the Yoruba-derived
religious system of Candomblé, the martial art of capoeira, African-derived
music such as samba, afoxé, and axé, and a cuisine with strong links to
western Africa. Bahia is the birthplace of such noted Brazilian
musicians as Dorival Caymmi, João Gilberto, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso
and his sister Maria Bethânia, Daniela Mercury, Ivete Sangalo, and
Carlinhos Brown, and home to internationally famous groups like Olodum,
Ara Ketu, and Ilê Aiyê. |
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There also are Indian tribes, such as the Pataxó, who reside on the
southern Atlantic coast and in the state's interior.
The state's geographical regions comprise the mata atlântica or remnants
of the Atlantic coast forests; the recôncavo region radiating from the
Bay (the largest in Brazil), the site of sugar and tobacco cultivation;
and the planalto, which includes the fabled sertão region of Bahia's far
interior. Brazil's second longest river system, the São Francisco, runs
from the Atlantic along the state's northern border down through the
planalto into the neighboring southern state of Minas Gerais.
Bahia is the main producer and exporter of cacao in Brazil. In addition
to important agricultural and industrial sectors, the state also has
considerable mineral and petroleum deposits. Another major industry is
tourism: Bahia's long coastline, beautiful beaches and cultural
treasures make it one of the Brazil's chief tourist destinations.
Other important cities in the state include Ilhéus, the birthplace of
one of Brazil's majors 20th century writers, Jorge Amado; the old island
city of Itaparica, on the island of the same name, in the bay; Cachoeira;
Vitória da Conquista; and Lençois, in the Chapada Diamantina region. |
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