Maranhão is one of the
states of Brazil in the north-eastern region. To the
north is the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.
Neighboring states are (from east clockwise) Piauí,
Tocantins and Pará.
Major cities in the state besides the state capital
São Luís are
Imperatriz
Timon
Caxias
The Alcantara spaceport is located in the north of
the state, not far from São Luís.
History
Despite the fact that the state capital São Luís was founded by the French
in 1612, it is said to be the Brazilian state capital which most closely
resembles a Portuguese city.
The historic city center was declared a world heritage site in 1997. The
French lost the city in 1614 to the Portuguese.
In 1621 Ceará, Maranhão and Pará were united and called the Estado do
Maranhão. It stayed independent until 1774, when it became administrated by
colonial Brazil.
Maranhão did not join in the Brazilian declaration of independence of 1822,
but in the following year the Portuguese were driven out by Admiral Lord
Cochrane and it became part of the Empire of Brazil.
