FORTALEZA - BRAZIL |
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Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará, a State in
the northeastern of Brazil. It is located on the coast and has a
population of around 2 million inhabitant. It is the second most
important city in the region behind Salvador in Bahia. Fortaleza has an
area of 336 square km. North of the city is the Atlantic Ocean, to the
south are the cities of Pacatuba, Eusébio, Maracanaú and Itaitinga. To
the East it is the county of Aquiraz and the Atlantic Ocean. And to west
the city of Caucaia. |
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Tourism
A complete infrastructure, three thousand hours of sun per year and the
constant ocean breeze gives the full dimension of this paradise. For
those who have more energy, the nightlife is full of attractions, with
bars, restaurants, and shows. Not even on Mondays Fortaleza cools down.
The city is known for having the "wildest Monday nights in the world."
The Praia of Iracema (Iracema's beach), one of the first urban nucleuses
of the city, holds most of the bars and restaurants. There, the Ponte
dos Ingleses (English's Bridge), the old docks, is located and used to
watch the sunset and spot dolphins.
Warm waters bathe Fortaleza's urbanized beaches, which offer every
comfort to the tourist. The scenery is complemented by the jangadas (small
and rustic rafts used by many of Ceará's fishermen). From the jangadas
come the sea's fruits, responsible for the best Ceará's cuisine. The
Praia do Futuro (Beach of the Future) is the meeting place for the
bathers, concentrating a large number of typical beachside restaurants,
with carnauba straw used in its construction. The local population calls
them "Barracas de Praia." Thursday nights, the beach becomes the biggest
sensation in the capital's nightlife, with live music, forró and a lot
of crab to eat.
A few kilometers away from the city are some well-known beaches as
Prainha, Iguape and Porto das Dunas. In the latter there are two large
water parks.
Cultural features
Landmarks
Fortaleza is the home of numerous landmarks and is a popular tourist
destination. Landmarks include:
José de Alencar playhouse
Mucuripe lighthouse
Cathedral
Iracema Statue
Nossa Senhora da Assunção Fort
Palace of Light
Sports
Fortaleza provides visitors and residents with various sport activities.
There are several football clubs based in Fortaleza such as Fortaleza
EC, Ferroviário AC and Ceará SC.
With string winds the Praia do Futuro is an excellent place for nautical
sports. Fortaleza hosts world competitions of surfing and windsurfing. |
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