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'{{pp-move-indef}} {{Infobox settlement |name = Belo Horizonte |settlement_type = [[Municipalities of Brazil|Municipality]] |official_name = ''Município de Belo Horizonte''<br/>Municipality of Belo Horizonte |nickname = ''BH'' (pronounced "beagá"),<br>''The Garden City'',<br>''Belô'' |image_skyline = Belo Horizonte Panorâmica.jpg |image = |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = Bandeira de Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).svg |flag_alt = Flag |image_shield = Brasão de Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais).svg |shield_alt = Coat of arms |pushpin_map = Brazil |pushpin_label_position = |pushpin_map_alt = |pushpin_map_caption = Localization of Belo Horizonte in Brazil |pushpin_map1 = Brazil Minas Gerais state |pushpin_label_position1 = |pushpin_map_alt1 = |pushpin_map_caption1 = Localization of Belo Horizonte in Minas Gerais |latd = 19|latm = 55|lats = |latNS = S |longd = 43|longm = 56|longs = |longEW = W <!--Coordinates: 19°55'10"S   43°56'26"W Centro (Belo Horizonte)--> |coordinates_display = inline,title |coordinates_region = BR |subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]] |subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Brazil|Region]] |subdivision_type2 = [[States of Brazil|State]] |subdivision_name = {{flag|Brazil}} |subdivision_name1 = [[Southeast Region, Brazil|Southeast]] |subdivision_name2 = {{flag|Minas Gerais}} |leader_title = [[Mayor]] |leader_name = [[Marcio Lacerda]] ([[Brazilian Socialist Party|PSB]])<br >(2013-2016) |established_title = Founded |established_date = 1701 |established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]] (as city) |established_date2 = December 12, 1897 |area_magnitude = 1 E8 |area_total_km2 = 330.9 |area_total_sq_mi = 127.7 |elevation_m = 852.19 |elevation_ft = 2796 |area_land_km2 = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_km2 = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = 282.3 |area_urban_sq_mi = 109 |area_metro_km2 = 9459.1 |area_metro_sq_mi = 3652 |population_as_of = 2010 |population_note = |population_footnotes = |population_total = 2475440 ([[List of largest cities in Brazil|6th]]) |population_metro = 5497922 ([[List of largest cities in Brazil|3rd]]) |population_urban = |population_blank1_title = [[Demonym]] |population_blank1 = Belorizontino |population_density_km2 = 7290.8 |utc_offset = −3 |timezone_DST = [[Time in Brazil|BDT]] |utc_offset_DST = -2 |area_code = +55 31 |postal_code_type = Postal Code |postal_code = 30000-000 |blank_name = |blank_info = |website = [http://www.pbh.gov.br/ www.pbh.gov.br] |footnotes = }} '''Belo Horizonte''' ({{IPA-pt|ˌbɛloɾiˈzõtʃi}},<ref>This is the local pronunciation. Elsewhere in Brazil it is pronounced {{IPA|[bɛlu oɾiˈzõtʃi]}}, {{IPA|[bɛlu oɾiˈzõti]}}, or {{IPA|[bɛlu oɾiˈzõte]}}</ref> ''Beautiful Horizon'') is the capital and largest city in the Brazilian [[States of Brazil|state]] of [[Minas Gerais]], located in the [[Southeast Region, Brazil|southeastern region]] of the country. According to 2010 Census data, the city owning a population of 2,375,440 inhabitants living within its urban core, making it that year, the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|sixth most populous city in Brazil]], behind only [[Sao Paulo]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], [[Salvador]], [[Brasilia]] and [[Fortaleza]]. However, with over 5,497,922 people (as of 2010) residing in the ''Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region'', or ''Greater Belo Horizonte'', formed by more than twenty cities, it ranks by far as the [[Demographics of Brazil|third most populous urban agglomeration in the country]], after only the [[Greater Sao Paulo]] and [[Grande Rio|Greater Rio]]. The region was first settled in the early 18th century, but the city as it is known today was planned and constructed in the 1890s, in order to replace [[Ouro Preto]] as the capital of [[Minas Gerais]]. The city features a mixture of contemporary and classical buildings, and is home to several modern Brazilian architectural icons, most notably the [[Pampulha|Pampulha Complex]]. In planning the city, Aarão Reis and Francisco Bicalho sought inspiration in the urban planning of [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.v-brazil.com/tourism/minas-gerais/belo-horizonte.html |title=Belo Horizonte in Brazil Travel |publisher=V-brazil.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> The city has employed notable programs in urban revitalization and food security, for which it has been awarded international accolades. The city is built on several hills and is completely surrounded by [[mountain]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte |title=About Belo Horizonte |publisher=World66.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110514054220/http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> There are several large parks in the immediate surroundings of Belo Horizonte. The Mangabeiras Park (Parque das Mangabeiras), located 6&nbsp;km south-east from the city centre in the hills of Curral Ridge (Serra do Curral), has a very broad view of the city. It has an area of {{convert|2.35|km2|acre|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|0.9|km2|acre|abbr=on}} is covered by the native forest. The Jambeiro Woods (Mata do Jambeiro) nature reserve extends over {{convert|912|ha|acre}}, with vegetation typical of the [[Atlantic forest]]. More than one hundred species of birds inhabit the reserve, as well as ten different species of mammals. ==Geography== ===Surrounding cities and metropolitan area=== The term "Grande BH" ("Greater Belo Horizonte") denotes any of various definitions for the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. The legally defined ''Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte'' consists of 34 municipalities in total, and a population of around five million inhabitants (as of 2007, according to IBGE).<ref name="IBGE_Pop_2007">{{cite web| url = http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls | title = Estimativas / Contagem da População 2007 | date = 2007-11-14 | publisher = Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) | accessdate = 2008-05-29| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080611205529/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls| archivedate= 11 June 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="SIDRA">{{cite web | url = http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/listabl.asp?z=cd&o=17&i=P&c=793 | title = Tabela 793 - População residente, em 1º de abril de 2007: Publicação Completa | date = 2007-11-14 | publisher = Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática (SIDRA) | accessdate = 2008-05-29}}</ref> The intense process of urbanization that is taking place in the metropolitan region has made some of the political boundaries between municipalities in the region obsolete. The city is now composed of a relatively contiguous urban area, centered on Belo Horizonte, which extends out into municipalities such as [[Contagem]], [[Betim]], [[Nova Lima]], [[Raposos]], [[Ribeirão das Neves]], [[Ibirité]], [[Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais|Santa Luzia]] and [[Sabará]], among others. The municipality bounded to the north by [[Vespasiano]], to the north east by Santa Luzia, by Sabará to the east, by Nova Lima to the southeast, [[Brumadinho]] to the south and Ribeirão das Neves, Contagem and [[Ibirité]] to the west. ===Geology and geomorphology=== Belo Horizonte lies on a region of contact between different geological series of the [[Proterozoic]]. The geology largely comprises various [[crystalline rock]]s, which give rise to the varied morphology of the landscape. It is located in a large geological unit known as the [[craton]] of [[São Francisco River|San Francisco]], referring to extensive crustal nucleus of central-eastern Brazil, tectonicly stable at the end of the [[Paleoproterozoic]] and bordering areas that suffered the regeneration at the [[Neoproterozoic]]. The [[archean]] rocks members of Belo Horizonte complex and supracrustal sequences of the Paleoproterozoic is predominant. The area of Belo Horizonte complex includes the geomorphological unit called ''Depression of Belo Horizonte'', which represents about 70% of the municipality area and has its greatest expression in the northern [[Ribeirão Arrudas]] (Rues Stream) pipeline. The [[metasedimentary]] rocks has its area of occurrence on the south of [[Ribeirão Arrudas]] pipeline, constituting about 30% of the area of Belo Horizonte. The characteristics of this area are lithological diversities and rugged topography, which has its maximum expression in the ''Serra do Curral'' (Corral Ridge), the southern boundary of the municipality. Its soil comprises a succession of layers of rocks of varied composition, represented by itabirite, [[dolomite]], [[quartzite]], filities and [[schist]]s different from the general direction northwest-southeast and dip to the southeast. The hills of Belo Horizonte are part of the [[Espinhaço Mountains]] and belong to the larger Itacolomi mountain chain. The highest point in the municipality is in the ''Serra do Curral'', reaching {{convert|1538|m|ft}}. ===Climate=== {{Main|Climate of Brazil}} Belo Horizonte's [[latitude]] at 19'55"South places it in the [[tropical zone]]. Yearly temperatures average between {{convert|9|and|35|C|F|}}. The [[Köppen climate classification]] of the region is [[tropical savanna climate]] (''Aw'') and it borders on a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cwa''), (tropical on high altitudes, humid/warm summers and a dry/mild winters). Belo Horizonte is located about {{convert|300|km|mi|}} distant from the sea. Even though inter-seasonal differences are not as pronounced as they are in temperate places, there is a contrast between spring and summer, and between fall and winter. The coldest month is generally July, with a lowest recorded temperature of {{convert|2|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The hottest month is usually January, with a highest recorded temperature of {{convert|35.4|°C|0|abbr=on}}. There can be problems related to low [[air humidity]] during August. The {{convert|852|m|ft|}} elevation of Belo Horizonte helps a little in cooling the city, suppressing high maximum air temperatures experienced in nearby cities at lower altitudes. Belo Horizonte's climate is mild throughout the year. Temperatures vary between {{convert|11|and|31|C|F}}, the average being {{convert|22|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Winter is dry, and summer is rainy. {{Weather box |location = Belo Horizonte |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan record high C = 35.3 |Feb record high C = 35.2 |Mar record high C = 35.2 |Apr record high C = 32.8 |May record high C = 32.9 |Jun record high C = 30.0 |Jul record high C = 32.0 |Aug record high C = 34.0 |Sep record high C = 36.1 |Oct record high C = 36.9 |Nov record high C = 36.2 |Dec record high C = 35.5 |year record high C = 36.9 |Jan high C = 28.2 |Feb high C = 28.8 |Mar high C = 28.6 |Apr high C = 27.5 |May high C = 26.0 |Jun high C = 25.0 |Jul high C = 24.6 |Aug high C = 26.5 |Sep high C = 27.2 |Oct high C = 27.7 |Nov high C = 27.5 |Dec high C = 27.3 |Jan mean C = 23.5 |Feb mean C = 23.9 |Mar mean C = 23.7 |Apr mean C = 22.4 |May mean C = 20.5 |Jun mean C = 19.2 |Jul mean C = 18.9 |Aug mean C = 20.5 |Sep mean C = 21.7 |Oct mean C = 22.6 |Nov mean C = 22.9 |Dec mean C = 22.9 |Jan low C = 18.8 |Feb low C = 19.0 |Mar low C = 18.8 |Apr low C = 17.3 |May low C = 15.0 |Jun low C = 13.4 |Jul low C = 13.1 |Aug low C = 14.4 |Sep low C = 16.2 |Oct low C = 17.5 |Nov low C = 18.2 |Dec low C = 18.4 |Jan record low C = 12.5 |Feb record low C = 12.8 |Mar record low C = 11.7 |Apr record low C = 6.4 |May record low C = 5.0 |Jun record low C = 2.4 |Jul record low C = 2.2 |Aug record low C = 5.8 |Sep record low C = 5.0 |Oct record low C = 9.2 |Nov record low C = 11.4 |Dec record low C = 12.8 |year record low C = 2.2 |Jan precipitation mm = 296.3 |Feb precipitation mm = 188.4 |Mar precipitation mm = 163.5 |Apr precipitation mm = 61.2 |May precipitation mm = 27.8 |Jun precipitation mm = 14.1 |Jul precipitation mm = 15.7 |Aug precipitation mm = 13.7 |Sep precipitation mm = 40.5 |Oct precipitation mm = 123.1 |Nov precipitation mm = 227.6 |Dec precipitation mm = 319.4 |year precipitation mm = 1491.3 |unit precipitation days= 0.1 mm |Jan precipitation days = 17 |Feb precipitation days = 13 |Mar precipitation days = 14 |Apr precipitation days = 7 |May precipitation days = 6 |Jun precipitation days = 2 |Jul precipitation days = 3 |Aug precipitation days = 4 |Sep precipitation days = 6 |Oct precipitation days = 10 |Nov precipitation days = 14 |Dec precipitation days = 20 |Jan sun = 189.1 |Feb sun = 197.8 |Mar sun = 213.9 |Apr sun = 228.0 |May sun = 235.6 |Jun sun = 240.0 |Jul sun = 257.3 |Aug sun = 254.2 |Sep sun = 210.0 |Oct sun = 189.1 |Nov sun = 183.0 |Dec sun = 164.3 |source 1 = World Meteorological Organization.,<ref name="WMO">[http://worldweather.wmo.int/136/c01062.htm Climate Information for Belo Horizonte], World Weather Information Service, accessed 07 August 2012.</ref> Hong Kong Observatory (sun only 1961-1990) <ref name="HKO">[http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/s_america/brazil/belo_horizonte_e.htm Climatological Information for Belo Horizonte, Brazil], Hong Kong Observatory, accessed 07 August 2012.</ref> |source 2 = Weatherbase (record highs and lows)<ref name="Tempo Agora">{{cite web |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=78538 |title=Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Belo Horizonte |accessdate=2012-08-07}}</ref> |date=September 2012}} ==History== {{refimprove section|date=December 2011}} [[File:Inauguracaobh.jpg|thumb|right|Inauguration of the city in 1897.]] The metropolis was once a small village, founded by João Leite da Silva Ortiz, a [[bandeirante]] explorer from [[São Paulo (city)|São Paulo]]. The explorer settled in the region in 1701, leaving a gold rush expedition. He then established a farm called "Curral d'el Rey", archaic [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for the "King's Corral", which in modern Portuguese would be spelled ''Curral do Rei''. The farm's wealth and success encouraged people from surrounding places to move into the region, and Curral del Rey became a village surrounded by farms. Another important factor contributing to the growth of the village was the number of migrants from the [[São Francisco river]] region, who had to pass through Curral d'el Rey in order to reach southern parts of Brazil. Travelers usually visited a small wooden chapel, where they prayed for a safe trip. Due to this fact, the chapel was named Capela da Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, which means "Chapel of Our Lady of the Good Journey." After the construction of Belo Horizonte, the old baroque chapel was replaced by a [[neo-gothic]] church which became the city's cathedral. The previous capital of [[Minas Gerais]], [[Ouro Preto]] (meaning "black gold", due to dark rocks with gold inside found on the region), originally called "Vila Rica" ("wealthy village"), was a symbol of both the monarchic [[Brazilian Empire]] and the period when most of Brazilian income was due to mining, and that never pleased the members of the [[Inconfidência Mineira]], republican intellectuals who conspired against the Portuguese dominion of Brazil. In 1889, Brazil became a republic, and it was agreed that a new state capital, in tune with a modern and prosperous Minas Gerais, had to be set. In 1893, due to the climatic and topographic conditions, Curral Del Rey was selected by Minas Gerais governor [[Afonso Augusto Moreira Pena|Afonso Pena]] among other cities as the location for the new economical and cultural center of the state, under the new name of "Cidade de Minas," or Minas City. [[File:Curraldelrey.jpg|thumb|right|''Curral do Rei'', 1896.]] Aarão Reis, an [[urbanist]] from the State of [[Pará]], was then set to design the second [[planned city]] of Brazil (the first one is [[Teresina]]), and then Cidade de Minas was inaugurated finally in 1897, with many unfinished constructions as the [[Politics of Brazil|Brazilian Government]] set a deadline for its completion. Inhabitation of the city was subsidized by the local government, through the concession of free empty lots and funding for building houses. An interesting feature of Reis' downtown street plan for Belo Horizonte was the inclusion of a symmetrical array of perpendicular and diagonal streets named after [[States of Brazil|Brazilian states]] and Brazilian [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] tribes. In 1906, the name was then changed to Belo Horizonte, and at that time the city was experiencing a considerable [[industry|industrial expansion]] that increased its commercial and [[tertiary sector of the economy|service]] sectors. From its very beginning, the city's original plan prohibited workers to live inside the urban area which was defined by Avenida do Contorno (a long avenue which goes around the city's central areas), reserved for the public sector functionaries (hence the name of the still trendy neighborhood "Funcionários"), and bringing about an accelerated occupation outside the city's area well provided with [[infrastructure]] since its very beginning. Obviously, the city's original planners did not count on its population growth afterwards, which proved especially intense in the last twenty years of the 20th century. In the 1940s, a young [[Oscar Niemeyer]] designed the Pampulha Neighborhood to great acclaim, a commission he got thanks to then-mayor, soon-to-be-president [[Juscelino Kubitschek]]. These two men are largely responsible for the wide [[Avenue (landscape)|avenue]]s, large lakes, parks and jutting skylines that characterize the city today. Belo Horizonte is fast becoming a regional center of commerce. The [[Latin America]]n [[Research and development]] center of [[Google]], situated in Belo Horizonte, is responsible for the management and operation of the [[social networking]] website [[Orkut]]. It continues to be a trendsetter in the arts, particularly where music, literature, architecture and the avant-garde are concerned. There are plans underway to move a complex of government ministries north of the center, onto the road to Confins International Airport, liberating space around beautiful palm-fringed Praça da Liberdade to house the city's symphony orchestra and other arts organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/a_cidade_historia.php |title=History of Belo Horizonte |language= |publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> ==Demographics== According to the [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|2010 IBGE Census]], there were 2,258,096 people residing in the city of Belo Horizonte.<ref>[http://www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br/dados_divulgados/index.php?uf=31 ]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref> The census revealed the following numbers: 1,110,034 [[White Brazilian|White]] people (46.7%), 995,167 [[Brown people#Pardos in Brazil|Brown]] ([[Multiracial#Brazil|Multiracial]]) people (41.9%), 241,155 [[Afro-Brazilian|Black]] people (10.2%), 25,270 [[Asian Brazilian|Asian]] people (1.1%), 3,477 [[Indigenous peoples in Brazil|Amerindian]] people (0.1%).<ref name=autogenerated3>{{cite web|url=http://www.censo2010.ibge.gov.br/painel/?nivel=mn |title=IBGE :: Censo 2010 |publisher=Censo2010.ibge.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> In 2010, the city had 428,893 [[Couple|opposite-sex couples]] and 1,090 [[same-sex couple]]s. The population of Belo Horizonte was 53.1% [[female]] and 46.9% [[male]].<ref name="autogenerated3"/> The Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, called ''Greater Belo Horizonte'', is the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|third most populous of Brazil]], after only [[Greater Sao Paulo]] (with 19,672,582 people, first in Brazil and [[List of metropolitan areas by population|5th in the world]]) and [[Rio de Janeiro|Greater Rio de Janeiro]] (with 14,387,000 people). The city is the [[List of largest cities in Brazil|sixth most populous of the country]]. During the 18th century, Minas Gerais received many [[Portuguese Brazilian|Portuguese]] immigrants, mainly from [[Northern Portugal]] as well as a huge number of enslaved Africans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asminasgerais.com.br/?item=CONTEUDO&codConteudoRaiz=88&codConteudoAtual=165 |title=Portuguese immigration |publisher=Asminasgerais.com.br |date=2002-02-19 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Belo Horizonte has a notable [[Italian Brazilian|Italian influence]], around 30% of the city's population have some [[Italian Brazilian|Italian origin]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insieme.com.br/portal/conteudo.php?sid=226&cid=1467&parent=0 |title=Italian origin in BH |publisher=Insieme.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> The [[Italian culture]] is present in the cuisine, dance, and language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cmbh.mg.gov.br/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23501&Itemid=367&filter=&nj=1 |title=Italian Culture in BH |publisher=Cmbh.mg.gov.br |date=2008-04-29 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> People of [[German Brazilian|German]], [[Spanish immigration to Brazil|Spanish]], and [[Arab Brazilian|Syrian-Lebanese]] ancestries also make up sizeable groups. ===Religion=== {{Main|Religion in Brazil}} {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Religion ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Percentage ! style="background:#87CEFA; color:white" | Number |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Catholic]] |68.84% |1,541,185 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Protestant]] |18.10% |405,265 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[Atheism|No religion]] |8.04% |179,995 |} ''Source: [[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]] 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/listabl.asp?z=cd&o=7&i=P&c=2094 |title=Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática - SIDRA |publisher=Sidra.ibge.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> '' ==Economy== {{Main|Economy of Belo Horizonte}} Belo Horizonte receives large numbers of visitors, as it is in the Brazilian main economic axis, exerting influence even on other states. Both multinational and Brazilian companies, like [[Google]] and [[Oi (mobile phone network)|Oi]], maintain offices in the city. The service sector plays a very important role in the economy of Belo Horizonte, being responsible for 85% of the city's [[gross domestic product]] (GDP), with the industry making up for most of the remaining 15%. Belo Horizonte has a developed industrial sector, being traditionally a hub of the Brazilian [[siderurgy|siderurgical]] and [[metallurgy|metallurgical]] industries, as the state of Minas Gerais has always been very rich in [[minerals]], specifically iron ore. Belo Horizonte is the distribution and processing center of a rich [[agriculture|agricultural]] and [[mining]] region and the nucleus of a burgeoning [[Industry|industrial complex]]. Production is centred on [[steel]], steel products, [[automobiles]], and [[textiles]]. [[Gold]], [[manganese]], and [[gem stone]]s mined in the surrounding region are processed in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/belo.html |title=BH city |publisher=Darkwing.uoregon.edu |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110513235809/http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~sergiok/brasil/belo.html| archivedate= 13 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The main industrial district of the city was set during the 1940s in [[Contagem]], a part of greater Belo Horizonte. Multinational companies like [[FIAT]] (which opened its plant in Betim in 1974), [[Arcelor]], and [[Toshiba]] have subsidiaries in the region, along with other [[textile]], [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]], [[food]], [[chemicals]], [[pharmaceuticals]], [[furnishing]] and [[refractory]] companies. Among the companies headquartered in the city we can list steel producer Açominas (held by [[Gerdau]], one of the largest multinationals originated in Brazil); [[Usiminas]]; Belgo-Mineira (held by [[Arcelor]]); [[Acesita]] (partially held by Arcelor); mobile communication [[Vivo S.A.|Vivo]]; and [[Telecom Italia Mobile]], as well as the [[NYSE]]-listed electrical company CEMIG. Leading steel product makers Sumitomo Metals of [[Japan]] and Vallourec of [[France]] have also plans to construct an integrated steel works on the outskirts of the city. There are also a large number of small enterprises in the technological sector with regional to nationwide success, particularly in the fields of [[computing]] and biotechonology. Because of both governmental and private funding in the diversification of its economy, the city has become an international reference in [[Information Technology]] and [[Biotechnology]], and is also cited because of the advanced corporate and university research in [[Biodiesel]] fuel. The number of jobs in the Information sector has been growing at annual rates above 50%. The Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area, composed of 33 cities under the capital's direct influence, is home to 16% of the country's biotechnology companies, with annual sales of over R$ 550 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/a_cidade_economia.php |title=Economy of the city of Belo Horizonte |language= |publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Projects in these fields are likely to expand because of integration between universities, the oil company [[Petrobras]] and the [[Brazilian Government]]. One of the largest events that ever took place in the city, the [[Inter-American Development Bank]] meeting, occurred in 2005 and attracted people from everywhere in the world. For a long time it was marked by the predominance of its [[industrial sector]], but from the 1990s there has been a constant expansion of the [[service sector]] economy, particularly in [[computer science]], [[biotechnology]], [[business tourism]], [[fashion]] and the making of [[jewelry]]. The city is considered to be a strategic leader in the [[Economy of Brazil|Brazilian economy]]. The move towards [[business tourism]] transformed the capital into a national hub for this segment of the [[tourist industry]]. * In 2008, the city's GDP was [[R$]]42 billion (or about of [[US$]]26,2 billion).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticias/noticia_impressao.php?id_noticia=1288|title=GDP|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2009-07-21|year=2006|language=Portuguese}}</ref> * In 2008, the [[Metropolitan area|Greater Belo Horizonte]]'s GDP was [[R$]]98,5 billion (or about of [[US$]]61 billion).<ref name="IBGE_PIB">{{cite web |url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/economia/pibmunicipios/2005/tab01.pdf |title=Produto Interno Bruto dos Municípios 2002-2005|publisher=Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE)|accessdate=30-maio-2009}}</ref> * In 2008, the city's [[per capita income]] was [[R$]]17,313 (or [[US$]]10,820).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/presidencia/noticias/noticia_impressao.php?id_noticia=1288|title=per capita income|publisher=[[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]]|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2010-01-10|year=2007|language=Portuguese}}</ref> In 2007, it was R$15,830<ref name="pnbonline.com.br">{{cite book|http://www.pnbonline.com.br/display.asp?id=36736|accessdate=2009-07-21|year=2006|language=Portuguese}}</ref> (about of US$9,893).<ref name="pnbonline.com.br"/> ==Education== {{Main|Education in Brazil}} [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] are both taught as second languages. ===Educational institutions=== Several [[higher education]] institutions are located in Belo Horizonte, including: * [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais]] (UFMG); * [[Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais]] (PUC-MG); * [http://www.unibh.br/ Centro Universitário de Belo Horizonte] (UNI-BH); * [http://www.uemg.br/ Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais] (UEMG); * [http://www.kennedy.br/ Faculdades Kennedy] (FKBH); * [http://www.una.br/ Centro Universitário] (UNA); * [http://www.fumec.br/ Universidade FUMEC] (FUMEC); * [http://www.unifenas.br/ Universidade José do Rosário Vellano] (UNIFENAS); * [http://www.newtonpaiva.br/ Centro Universitário Newton Paiva]; * [[Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais]] (CEFET-MG); * [http://www.domhelder.edu.br/ Escola Superior Dom Helder Câmara - Especializada em Direito]; * [http://www.faculdadejesuita.edu.br/ Faculdade Jesuíta de Filosofia e Teologia] (FAJE) * and many others. ==Culture== ===Food and drink=== The regional Minas Gerais' food and the now internationally known drink of [[cachaça]] are very popular and highly rated in the capital.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte/nightlife_and_ente |title=Regional food and drink BH |publisher=World66.com |date=2006-09-25 |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110514112839/http://www.world66.com/southamerica/brazil/belohorizonte/nightlife_and_ente| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> Belo Horizonte is internationally known as the "capital of neighborhood bars."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belotur.com.br/ing/gastronomia.php |title=Cuisine in Belo Horizonte |language=|publisher=Belotur.com.br |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Every year, the city hosts the Comida di Buteco festival ("Pub Foods", in an approximate translation), in which a panel selects 41 [[bar (establishment)|bar]]s to be visited, and then elects the one with the best appetizers using the theme ingredient of each year. Minas Gerais' cuisine is famous for its traditional dishes, like [[pão de queijo]], feijão tropeiro, tutu de feijão, pork ribs, chicken-and-okra (served with a rich, brown gravy and rice) and other usually heavy, comfort-like food. The city also abounds with pizza places, barbecue houses, fine restaurants of various nationalities and other options. ===Music=== [[Clube da Esquina]] is one of the most important musical movements in the musical history of Brazil. It originated in the mid-1960s, and since then its members have been hugely influential in Brazilian and even international music, some like Milton Nascimento and Toninho Horta achieving worldwide acclaim. Other people involved in the movement include musicians, songwriters, composers, conductors and lyricists, such as [[Tavinho Moura]], [[Wagner Tiso]], [[Andersen Viana]], [[Milton Nascimento]], [[Lô Borges]], [[Beto Guedes]], [[Flávio Venturini]], [[Toninho Horta]], [[Márcio Borges]] and [[Fernando Brant]], among others. The band [[Uakti (band)|Uakti]] - known for performing with self-built musical instruments - originated in Belo Horizonte under the influence of Walter Smetak and the Composition School from Bahia. Also, several nationally famous [[rock music|rock]] groups have been founded in Belo Horizonte, including [[Jota Quest]], [[Pato Fu]], [[Skank (band)|Skank]], [[14 Bis (Band)|14 Bis]] and Tianastácia. In later years, Belo Horizonte has been more frequently included in Brazilian tours of foreign mainstream and independent acts. Belo Horizonte is also known as the Brazilian Capital of Metal, hence the huge number of heavy metal bands (and the likes) founded there, especially in the 1980s. Most importantly, [[Overdose (band)|Overdose]], the first metal band from BH and one of the first to gain prominence in Brazil; [[Sepultura]], the world's best known Brazilian metal band; and [[Sarcófago]], one of the founders of modern [[black metal]]. The [[contemporary Christian music]] band [[Diante do Trono]], is also of Belo Horizonte. ===Museums=== Belo Horizonte features a number of museums including the Mineiro Museum, the Abílio Barreto Historic Museum, Arts and Workmanship Museum, a Natural History Museum and the UFMG [[Botanic Garden]]s, a telephone museum, the Pampulha Art Museum, the Professor Taylor Gramke Mineralogy Museum, and the UFMG Conservatory. The puppet theatre group Giramundo was established here in 1970, and continues to maintain a puppetry museum hosting a collection of their creations. ==== Natural History Museum and the UFMG Botanic Gardens ==== The Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden holds an important treasure of folk art – the Nativity of Pipiripau. Created during the 20th century, the craftsman Raimundo Machado, synchronizes 586 figures, distributed in 45 scenes, which tell the story of life and death of Jesus, mixed with its variety of arts and crafts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mhnjb.ufmg.br/index.html |title=UFMG Museum of Natural History and Botanic Garden |location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|accessdate=September 30, 2011}}</ref> With 600,000 sq. m. of green area, the [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|UFMG]] Museum of Natural History and Botanic Garden (MHN-JB) is a privileged ecological space that enables visitors to experience nature in a rich, multidisciplinary way. For 30 years, the mission of the MHN-JB has been to do research, to educate, and to meet the community’s demand for service. It covers the areas of [[Anthropology]], [[Archeology]], Environmental Education, [[Natural History]], [[Mineralogy]], and [[Paleontology]]. It has an Ecological Amphitheater, a Free Art Atelier, a [[Greenhouse]], and an Interactive Room. One of its traditional exhibitions is the Pipiripau Nativity Crèche.It has also created many attractions for the public such as: [[File:Http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cCMKcDFMMiI/UJVnq bRnrI/AAAAAAAACic/D8Iwegx9G7w/s640/url+(11).jpg|thumbnail]] ==== Palácio das Artes ==== Palácio das Artes, inaugurated in 1970, is the largest and most varied cultural complex in Minas Gerais. It comprises three theaters, three art galleries, a movie theater, a bookstore a coffee shop and photography exhibition space. It offers high quality programs for the several expressions in arts. The building was projected by Oscar Niemeyer and it also houses the Minas Gerais Handcraft Center. ==== Pampulha Art Museum (MAP) ==== The Pampulha Art Museum is located at the Pampulha Lagoon in Belo Horizonte in a building that originally housed the Pampulha Casino. The building was projected by Oscar Niemeyer, commissioned by the then mayor and future president of Brazil Juscelino Kubitschek in the early 1940s, with external grounds by landscaper [[Burle Marx|Roberto Burle Marx]]. The building was the first project of Oscar Niemeyer. It was an old casino, closed in 1946. In 1957, opened with the Art Museum. His design was influenced by the principles of Le Corbusier. The gardens of [[Burle Marx]] are an tribute to the tropical green. There is three sculptures by Ceschiatti, Zamoiski and José Pedrosa. In 1996, it won new multimedia rooms, library, café bar, souvenir shop and technical infrastructure. The MAP has an impressive collection of 1.600 works.<ref name="BH_GUIDE">{{cite web |url=http://www.youblisher.com/files/publications/30/174017/pdf.pdf |title=Belo Horizonte: um guia completo da capital de todos os mineiros |location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF |date= |accessdate=September 30, 2011}}</ref> The Museum is an integral part of the “Pampulha Architectural Complex” a watershed in the history of modern architecture in Brazil and internationally. ===Theatre=== Every two years, FIT BH, The International Theater Festival of Belo Horizonte, takes place in the city. This attracts artists from all over Brazil and worldwide. With the merger of two projects that would happen separately in 1994, one stage based, organized by the Francisco Nunes [[Theater]], and the other street based, idealized by Grupo Galpão, came FIT-BH Palco & Rua. Produced every two years, under responsibility from the Belo Horizonte [[City Hall]], through the Municipal Culture Office and the Association Movimento Teatro de Grupo of Minas Gerais, in the program there are street and stage shows, and also seminars, workshops, courses, talks, etc. ===Dance=== Several notable artistic groups originated in Belo Horizonte. [[Grupo Corpo]], which is perhaps the most famous [[contemporary dance]] group in the country, was formed in the city in 1975. In March and April is the performance program from FID promoting contemporary dance in Belo Horizonte. The program presents groups from Belo Horizonte. For this project the priority invitations go to the shows created by groups and [[choreographer]]s living in the city. The purpose is to take shows and other activities such as workshops, talks and video screenings to the less privileged regions of the city regarding access to cultural assets. Belo Horizonte is also host to the Centro Mineiro de Danças Clássicas school. ==Transportation== [[File:BH MinasCentro.JPG|thumb|right|Bus in Downtown Belo Horizonte.]] ===Airports=== Belo Horizonte is served by three airports: *[[Tancredo Neves International Airport|Tancredo Neves/Confins International Airport]], dedicated to domestic and international traffic. It is located in the municipalities of [[Lagoa Santa]] and [[Confins]], {{convert|38|km|mi}} from Belo Horizonte, and was opened in January 1984. Plans for gradual expansion to meet growing demand had been already drawn up from the airport's inception. The airport has one of the lowest rates of shutdown for bad weather in the country. It ran at limited capacity until 2005, when a large proportion of Pampulha Airport air traffic was transferred to Confins. *[[Belo Horizonte/Pampulha - Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport|Pampulha - Carlos Drummond de Andrade Airport]], dedicated to domestic traffic; *[[Carlos Prates Airport]], dedicated to general aviation. ===Highways=== The city is connected to the rest of Minas Gerais state and the country by a number of roadways. [[Minas Gerais]] has the country's largest federal highway network.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1422832-EI306,00.html|title=Tempo bom e trânsito lento marcam volta de feriado|publisher=Terra|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-02-22|year=2007|language=Portuguese| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070307014129/http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI1422832-EI306,00.html| archivedate= 7 March 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> * [[Brazilian Highway System#BR-040|BR-040]] connects Belo Horizonte to [[Rio de Janeiro]] (going south) and [[Brasília]] (going northwest). It also links other cities in the state, such as [[Juiz de Fora]], [[Conselheiro Lafaiete]], Santos Dumont, [[Sete Lagoas]], and [[Paracatu, Minas Gerais|Paracatu]]. * [[BR-262]] begins in [[Mato Grosso do Sul]] and ends in [[Espírito Santo]], crossing [[Minas Gerais]] from west to east. It links Belo Horizonte to [[Pará de Minas]], [[Araxá]], [[Manhuaçu]], [[Uberaba]], [[Governador Valadares]], and [[Vitória, Brazil|Vitória]], the capital of [[Espírito Santo]] state. * [[Rodovia Fernão Dias|BR-381]] is an important federal highway. It connects Belo Horizonte to [[São Paulo]]. * MG-010 is a state highway that connects the capital to the [[Tancredo Neves International Airport]], itself located in the municipalities of Confins and Lagoa Santa, which are part of the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. Starting in 2005, several flights were transferred from the [[Pampulha Regional Airport]] to the international airport. To improve access to the international airport, MG-010 is being expanded (effectively duplicating its lanes).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.linhaverde.mg.gov.br/|title=Linha Verde|publisher=Governo do Estado de Minas Gerais|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-01-30|year=2007|language=Portuguese| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070125231316/http://www.linhaverde.mg.gov.br/| archivedate= 25 January 2007 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> The city is also served by other minor roads such as state highways MG-020, MG-050, MG-030, and MG-433. There is also an East-West Express Way, which goes from the city to the nearby industrial centers of [[Contagem]] and [[Betim]] (together having a population of ca. 900,000), and Anel Rodoviário, a kind of "beltway" - indeed it is not circumferential, but connects many highways, such as the federal (BR-ones) so it is not necessary for a large number of cars and trucks to pass through the city center. Many of these [[road]]s are in poor condition, but in the last years many revitalization and rebuilding projects have been started. ===Bus system=== The bus system has a large number of bus lines going through all parts in the city, and is administrated by ''BHTRANS''. Among the upcoming projects are the expansion of the integration between bus lines and the [[rapid transit|metro]], with integrated stations, many already in use. And the construction of bus corridors, with lanes and bus stops exclusively for the bus lines. Keeping buses from traffic congestions, making the trips more viable for commuters. ===Railways=== [[Belo Horizonte Metro]] or MetroBH started operating at the end of 1970s. There is one line, with 19 stations, from Vilarinho to Eldorado Station, in [[Contagem]], transporting over 160,000 people daily. The current projects of expansion include Line 2, linking the existing Calafate Station to the region of Barreiro. And Line 3, from the city's main bus terminal to [[Savassi]] economical district. Line 2 is planned to be overground (similar to the current line) and Line 3 is planned to be underground, passing through the city's financial centre, Praça Sete and Afonso Pena Avenue. Also, Line 1 is planned to be extended to Novo Eldorado Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metrominas.mg.gov.br/ |title=Metrominas - Trem Metropolitano de Belo Horizonte |publisher=Metrominas.mg.gov.br |date= |accessdate=2012-11-16}}</ref> ==Landmarks== Belo Horizonte has several significant cultural landmarks, many of them situated in the [[Pampulha]] district, where there are notable examples of Brazilian contemporary architecture. These include one of the largest soccer stadiums in the world, the [[Mineirão]] stadium, and the [[Church of Saint Francis of Assisi|São Francisco de Assis Church]], widely known as Igreja da Pampulha, designed by Brazilian [[Modern movement|Modernist]] architect [[Oscar Niemeyer]]. In Pampulha there is also the [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais]] campus, whose buildings themselves are important contributions to the city's architecture. Other notable buildings include the Mesbla and Niemeyer buildings, in addition to the headquarters of corporations such as [[Usiminas]], Seculus, and Telemig Celular. In the downtown area, landmarks include the church of São José, the Praça da Estação (Station Square), which is an old train station that now is also the Museum of Arts and Workmanship, the Municipal Park, the famous Sete de Setembro Square, where an obelisk built in 1922 marks the one hundred years of [[Brazilian independence]] from [[Portugal]]. Near Central the area, in the Lourdes neighborhood, the Lourdes Basilica, is an example of [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival style]]. The Nossa Senhora de Fátima Church, in Santo Agostinho neighborhood, is situated in [[Carlos Chagas]] Square. Both churches are referred to as the Assembléia Church and the Assembléia Square because of their proximity to the state's [[legislative assembly]]. Next to the downtown region is the famous Savassi district, known for fine restaurants and as a center of cultural events as well as the best of the city's nightlife. Many landmarks are located there, such as the Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square), and its surrounding buildings, including the former Executive Offices of the governor called the Palácio da Liberdade (Liberty Palace), the first building to be finished during the city's planned development in the late 1890s. The government offices moved to the "Cidade Administrativa" in 2010. This complex is made by a few massive buildings just outside the city. Nowadays, the "palaces" are being turned into museums. Still on Savassi, the meeting point of many social groups, especially the youth, is "Praça da Savassi" (Savassi Square), which is not exactly a square, and more a crossing between two major avenues ([[Getúlio Vargas]] and Cristóvão Colombo), and gathers some of the busiest bars and pubs (called locally "botecos" or "botequins")in town. Another important landmark is Praça do Papa (Pope's Square), located at a high point south of the downtown area, with its great view of the entire city. It is named for the July 1st, 1980, visit by [[John Paul II]], who held a youth mass there. The nearby Parque das Mangabeiras (Mangabeiras Park) features extensive wildlife, and-owing to its considerable size-has its own bus service, which operates solely within the confines of the park. On Sundays, Afonso Pena Avenue hosts Latin America's biggest open-air market. This is the Market of Arts and Handicrafts, most commonly known as Feira Hippie (hippie fair). Every Sunday morning 70,000 visitors find food, drinks, clothes, furniture, earrings, shoes and almost anything else.<ref>{{cite web|author=FeiraHippiebh.com |url=http://www.feirahippiebh.com |title=Feira Hippie WebSite |publisher=Feirahippiebh.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> ===Zoological Park and Botanical Garden=== A center for conservation and preservation of animals and plants it has also developed environmental education projects. The Zoo, which encompasses a total area of 1.4 million square meters, is located at the Foundation’s headquarters and is regarded as one of the most complete in Latin America. It has a collection of close to 900 animals representing 200 species, from Brazil and other parts of the world, as well as the first public butterfly sanctuary in [[South America]]. Pampulha Ecological Park is administered by the Zoo-Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte and was inaugurated in May 21 of 2004. It's {{convert|30|acres|0|abbr=on}} of green area that offers to the population and the tourists a permanent programming of environmental, cultural and patrimonial education. ==Human development== The human development of Belo Horizonte varies greatly by locality, reflecting the city's spatial social inequality and vast socioeconomic inequalities. There are neighborhoods that had very high [[human development index]]es in 2000 (equal to or greater than the indexes of some [[Scandinavia]]n countries), but those in the lower range (in line with, for example, [[Magreb|North Africa]]).<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.pnud.org.br/pobreza_desigualdade/reportagens/index.php?id01=2480&lay=pde |title=HDI|publisher=PNUD|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2008-01-09 |year=2000|language=Portuguese}}</ref> ===Highest-scoring neighborhoods and localities=== * Carmo/Sion (0.973): greater than [[Iceland]] - 0.968. * Cruzeiro/Anchieta/Funcionários (0.970): greater than [[Iceland]] - 0.968 * Grajau/Gutierrez (0.965): greater than [[Australia]] - 0.962 * Belvedere/Mangabeiras/Comiteco (0.964): greater than [[Australia]] - 0.962 * Serra/São Lucas (0.953): equal to [[Japan]], [[Netherlands]] - 0.953 ===Food as a right=== In 1993, under mayor [[Patrus Ananias de Souza]], the city started a series of innovations based on its citizens having the "[[right to food]]". These include, for example, creating [[farmers' market]]s in the town to enable direct sales and regularly surveying market prices and posting the results across the city.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.alternatives.ca/auteur/cecilia-rocha?lang=en|title=Belo Horizonte: The Beautiful Horizon of Community Food Sovereignty|publisher=''Alternatives International Journal''|location=Quebec, Canada|accessdate=2009-11-10|year=2008|author=Wayne Roberts and Cecilia Rocha}}</ref> The city's process of [[participatory budgeting]] was linked with these innovations, as a result of which the [[infant mortality rate]] was reduced by 50% in a decade.<ref>FRANCIS MOORE LAPPÉ, ''CounterPunch'', 18 March 2009, [http://www.counterpunch.org/lappe03182009.html The City That Ended Hunger]</ref><ref name="thesis">M. Jahi Chappell, PhD Thesis, 2009, [http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/62417 ''From Food Security to Farm to Formicidae: Belo Horizonte, Brazil's Secretaria Municipal de Abastecimento and Biodiversity in the Fragmented Atlantic Rainforest'']</ref> There is some evidence that these programs have helped support a higher quality of life for the local farmers partnering with the city and that this may be having positive effects on biodiversity in the Atlantic rainforest around the city.<ref name="thesis"/><ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/publications/papers/UrbanFoodPolicy.pdf|format=PDF|title=Urban Food Policies and Rural Sustainability: How the Municipal Government of Belo Horizonte, Brazil is Promoting Rural Sustainability |publisher=Centre for Studies in Food Security, and Department of Nutrition, Ryerson University|location=Toronto, Canada |accessdate=2009-11-10|year=2003|author=Cecilia Rocha and Adriana Aranha}}{{dead link|date=April 2011}}</ref> The city's development of these policies garnered the first "Future Policy Award" in 2009, awarded by the [[World Future Council]], a group of 50 activists (including [[Frances Moore Lappé]], [[Vandana Shiva]], [[Wes Jackson]], and [[Youssou N'Dour]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_councillors.html |title=Councillors |publisher=The World Future Council |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110523063243/http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/the_councillors.html| archivedate= 23 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>) concerned with the development and recognition of policies to promote a just and sustainable future. ===Vila Viva=== The city has undertaken an internationally heralded project called Vila Viva ("Living Village" in Portuguese) that promises to "urbanize" the poorest areas (''[[favela]]s''), relocating families from areas with high risk of floods and landslides but keeping them in the same neighborhood, paving main avenues to allow public transportation, police and postal service to have access. All the work is done with 80% of locals, reducing unemployment and increasing family income.<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/belohorizonte_05.html |title=Belo Horizonte Mayor Fernando Damata Pimentel: A program of financial efficiency and social boldness |publisher=Worldmayor.com |date= |accessdate=2011-04-17| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110514220216/http://www.worldmayor.com/manifestos05/belohorizonte_05.html| archivedate= 14 May 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.favelaeissoai.com.br/noticias.php?cod=59 |language=Portuguese|title= Favela é isso ai |publisher=Favelaeissoai.com.br |date=2010-01-18 |accessdate=2011-04-17}}</ref> Former mayor [[Fernando da Mata Pimentel]] was nominated for [[World Mayor]] in 2005 on the strength of these and other programs.<ref name="mayor"/> ==Sports== {{See also|2014 FIFA World Cup|Sports in Brazil}} As in the rest of Brazil, [[football (soccer)|football]] is the most popular sport among locals. Belo Horizonte has three professional football teams: [[América Futebol Clube (MG)|América]], [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]] and [[Cruzeiro Esporte Clube|Cruzeiro]]—the latter two are among Brazil's most popular clubs. The city also has one of the biggest football stadiums in the world, the [[Mineirão]], which opened in 1965. The older [[Independência Stadium]] was the site of a legendary World Cup victory in 1950, when the [[England v United States (1950)|United States beat England]] in a 1–0 win.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://national.soccerhall.org/Monthly%20Column/MC.May.2005.htm|title=Soccerhall|publisher=Soccerhall|location=Belo Horizonte, Brazil|format=PDF|isbn=85-240-3919-1|accessdate=2007-07-18|year=2005|language=Portuguese}}</ref> During the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]] in Brazil, Belo Horizonte will serve as a host city for six matches. In addition to football, Belo Horizonte has one of the largest attendances at [[volleyball]] matches in the entire country. They are played either at [[Mineirinho]], home of [[Brazil national volleyball team|Brazil's national volleyball team]], or at [[Minas Tênis Clube]]. ==Sister cities== Belo Horizonte's [[Town twinning|sister cities]] are:<ref name="sister">{{cite web |url=http://www.pbh.gov.br/bh-internacional/bhz-acordos_irmas.htm |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071223020811/http://www.pbh.gov.br/bh-internacional/bhz-acordos_irmas.htm |archivedate=2007-12-23 |title=Mayor's International Council Sister Cities Program |publisher=Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais|accessdate = 2008-08-18}}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |- valign="top" | * {{flagicon|Angola}} '''[[Luanda]]''', [[Angola]] (1968)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df011670e158750a68&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 1.485 de 7 de maio de 1968|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Lebanon}} '''[[Zahlé]]''', [[Lebanon]] (1974)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df0116713432002070&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 2.380, de 11 de dezembro de 1974|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Spain}} '''[[Granada]]''', [[Spain]] (1975)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01167188d22635ce&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 2.492, de 22 de julho de 1975|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Portugal}} '''[[Porto]]''', [[Portugal]] (1986)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166f419d17020a&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 4.574, de 15 de outubro de 1986|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Belarus}} '''[[Minsk]]''', [[Belarus]] (1987)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166eec0ec65c99&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 4.926, de 18 de dezembro de 1987|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Cuba}} '''[[Havana]]''', [[Cuba]] (1995)<ref name="sisterbh">{{cite web |url=http://portalpbh.pbh.gov.br/pbh/ecp/comunidade.do?evento=portlet&pIdPlc=ecpTaxonomiaMenuPortal&app=relacoesinternacionais&tax=11465&lang=pt_BR&pg=5781&taxp=0& |title= Relações Internacionais - Cidades Irmãs|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Prefeitura Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> *{{flagicon|China}} '''[[Nanjing]]''', [[China]] (1996)<ref name="sisterbh"/> *{{flagicon|India}} '''[[Kolkata]]''', [[India]] (1999)<ref name="sisterbh"/> * {{flagicon|Palestine}} '''[[Bethlehem]]''', [[Palestinian Authority]] (2001)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166f2751047715&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 8.150, de 04 de janeiro de 2001 (que altera a Lei nº 7.737, de 27 de maio de 1999) |accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> || * {{flagicon|Syria}} '''[[Homs]]''', [[Syria]] (2001)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166f6286e30f57&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 8.272, de 26 de dezembro de 2001|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} '''[[Masaya]]''', [[Nicaragua]] (2002)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166f8b76051f06&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 8.443, de 25 de novembro de 2002|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Libya}} '''[[Tripoli]]''', [[Libya]] (2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166faa87422a64&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 8.559, de 17 de junho de 2003|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Fort Lauderdale]]''', [[United States]] (2003)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166fae67962bc7&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei n° 8.591, de 18 de junho de 2003 |accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Honduras}} '''[[Tegucigalpa]]''', [[Honduras]] (2004)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166fc44b7f337e&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 8.729, de 06 de janeiro de 2004|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|Ecuador}} '''[[Cuenca, Ecuador|Cuenca]]''', [[Ecuador]] (2004)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01166fd3e81c38e2&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 8.867, de 17 de junho de 2004|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> * {{flagicon|USA}} '''[[Newark, New Jersey]]''', [[United States]] (2006)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cmbhapweb.cmbh.mg.gov.br:8080/silinternet/consultaNormas/detalheNorma.do?id=2c907f76166df5df01167005a5314981&metodo=detalhar# |title=Lei nº 9.156, de 12 de janeiro de 2006|accessdate=29 de dezembro de 2008 |author=Câmara Municipal de Belo Horizonte}}</ref> *{{flagicon|Turkey}} '''[[Izmir]]''', [[Turkey]] (2009)<ref name="sisterbh"/> * {{flagicon|South Korea}} '''[[Incheon]]''', [[South Korea]] (2011)<ref name="sisterbh"/> |} ==Partner cities== Belo Horizonte has the following partner city: * {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Milan]]''', [[Italy]] ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{Sister project links|Belo Horizonte|voy=Belo Horizonte}} ===Official=== * {{pt icon}} [http://www.pbh.gov.br/ Page of the City Hall of Belo Horizonte] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.mg.gov.br/ Page of the Government of the State of Minas Gerais] ===Education=== * {{pt icon}} [http://www.pucminas.br/ PUC-MG] - the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais * {{pt icon}} [http://www.unibh.br/ UNI-BH] - the University of Belo Horizonte * {{pt icon}} [http://www.ufmg.br/ UFMG] - [[Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais|Federal University of Minas Gerais]] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.cefetmg.br/ CEFET-MG] - [[Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais|Federal Center of Technologic Education of Minas Gerais]] * {{en}} [http://www.eabh.com.br/eng/home.html Escola Americana de Belo Horizonte] - (American School of Belo Horizonte) * {{it}} [http://www.fundacaotorino.com.br/ Escola Internacional Fundação Torino] (School of Torino International Foundation) ===Photos=== * [http://belohorizonte.nafoto.net/ Images of Belo Horizonte] ===Architecture=== * {{pt icon}} [http://www.arqbh.com.br/ ARQBH] ===Tourism=== * [http://www.what-they-say.com/Belo-Horizonte-1.html Information about Belo Horizonte] * [http://www.belo-horizonte.travel/destination_guide Travel Information] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.belohorizonte.com/ BeloHorizonte.com - City Portal with services and business links] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.belotur.com.br/por/index.php Maplink - Belo Horizonte Street Guide and Maps] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.webbusca.com.br/pagam/guia_belo_horizonte.htm Belo Horizonte Yellow Pages] * {{pt icon}} [http://www.idasbrasil.com.br/idasbrasil/cidades/BeloHorizonte/port/cultura.asp Culture in Belo Horizonte] * [http://dobusinessbrazil.com/">Business in Brazil] * [http://worldcuplatest.co.uk/">World Cup Travel] * [http://expatbrazil.co.uk/">Brazil Travel] ===Food security=== * [http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/future_policy_award_film_en.html Video] about Belo Horizonte's receipt of the World Future Policy award * [http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/projects/brazil/beloresources.html Presentations and papers on Belo Horizonte] by Brazilian Canadian economist Cecilia Rocha, Toronto Food Policy Council coordinator [[Wayne Roberts]], and former city food security administrator Adriana Aranha at [[Ryerson University]]'s [http://www.ryerson.ca/foodsecurity/index.html Centre for Studies in Food Security] * [http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/food-for-everyone/the-city-that-ended-hunger "The City that Ended Hunger"], Frances Moore Lappé's essay on Belo Horizonte's programs in Yes! Magazine ===Culture=== * {{pt icon}} [http://www.comidadibuteco.com.br/home.php?i=1 Comida di Buteco] Festival of bar appetizers. {{Navboxes |title = Articles Related to Belo Horizonte |list = {{Brazil topics|state=expanded}} {{Navboxes }} {{Municipalities of Minas Gerais}} {{Demographics of Brazil}} {{Capitals of Brazilian states}} {{BrazilLargestCities}} }} [[Category:Belo Horizonte| ]] [[Category:Populated places in Minas Gerais]] [[Category:State capitals in Brazil]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1701]] [[Category:Planned cities in Brazil]] {{Link FA|pt}}'