Alagoas

Introduction

Alagoas is a state in Brazil. Next to last Brazilian state in area (larger only than Sergipe) and 16th in population, it is one of the greatest producers of sugarcane and coconuts in the country and has an economy based on cattle raising.

Land of the sururu (or Charru Mussel), lagoon shellfish which serves as food for the coastal population, and of coconut water, Alagoas also possesses some of the country's richest folklore.

Geography

The state's name originates with the lakes along its coast near the city of Maceió. The coast is bordered by fringing reefs and many fine beaches. Behind the beaches, sometimes only hundreds of meters and defined by steep scarps, lies a stretch of green coastal hills having enough rainfall for considerable agriculture and scarce remnants of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Rain Forest) that now is largely limited to steep hill tops or steep valley sides and bottoms. This is the area long dominated by sugar cane.

Still farther inland lies the Sertão of the Northeast region of the nation. The Sertão is a high dry region dominated by scrub that is often thorn-filled and sometimes toxic, the caatinga. This area and its people are famed in legend and song. It is the land of the cowboy who is clad from head to toe (if he is lucky) with very thick leather to avoid the sharp vegetation.

Cities

• Maceió

Getting There

By Plane

Maceió/Zumbi dos Palmares International Airport (IATA: MCZ, ICAO: SBMO), formerly called Campo dos Palmares Airport, offers connections to/from Brasília, Salvador da Bahia, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Aracaju, Belo Horizonte-Confins, Campinas, Fernando de Noronha, Natal, Recife, Rio de Janeiro-Santos Dumont, Teresina, Buenos Aires-Ezeiza, Rio de Janeiro-Galeão and São Paulo-Congonhas.

External Links

• Official Website