SALVADOR - BRAZIL |
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Salvador (in full, São Salvador da Baía de
Todos os Santos, meaning "Holy Savior of the Bay of All Saints") is a
city on the northeast coast of Brazil and the capital of the Brazilian
state of Bahia. It was for a long time known as the city of Bahia, and
appears under that name (or as Salvador Bahia) on many maps and books
from before the mid 20th century.
Salvador is located on a peninsula on the Atlantic Ocean coast, next to
the Baía de Todos os Santos. It is a major export port and the heart of
the Recôncavo Baiano metropolitan region. Its population was 2.54
million people in 2002, making it the third largest city in Brazil. |
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The city is divided into a cidade alta ("upper city") and cidade baixa ("lower
city"), with the Cathedral and administrative buildings on the higher ground.
The city still contains many colonial buildings, including the first
cathedral in Brazil, and the nation's oldest medical college, but it has
become more famous due to the strong influence of African culture on the
city. The majority of the population of the city are of African ancestry. It
is the center of Yoruba Candomblé and the martial dance art of capoeira, and
has so many churches (over 350 including the 16th century cathedral) it has
been dubbed the "Black Rome". The African influence extends beyond religion
to cover food, music (from the spiritually influenced afoxé and the
community-based blocos afros to more popular axé and samba), and a dynamic
cultural life.
The city's official literacy rate is 81%. As of the late 1990s, the average
monthly income was R$ 537 (about 447 US dollars). Sanitation is a problem in
the poorer neighborhoods. About 1/3 of the residents have neither sewage
hookups nor septic tanks.
The city has several universities, including the Universidade Federal da
Bahia, Universidade do Estado da Bahia, and Universidade Católica do
Salvador.
Salvador is noted for its large Carnival celebrations.
Salvador is an important tourism destination, especially the Pelourinho or
old town and the beaches.
Ford Motor Company has a plant here, assembling the Ford Courier. |
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