Piranhas
Encyclopedia : P : PI : PIR : Piranhas
- This article is about the Brazilian city in the state of Alagoas. For the Brazilian city in the state of Goiás see Piranhas, Goiás. For the animal, see piranha, for the band, see The Piranhas.
Piranhas is a historic city and municipality in the State of
Alagoas, in the Northeast Region of
Brazil. Located on the bank of the
São Francisco River, just at the border with the State of
Sergipe, Piranhas was founded in
1891and originally named
Floriano Peixoto (in honor of the Army General who was one of the founders of the Republic and later elected
President). It was initially named
Porto de Piranhas, because a fisherman had caught some
piranhas (a carnivore predator fish) there. In the 30s, Piranhas was attacked several times by the
cangaceiros, bands of marauders and bandits commanded by the infamous
Lampião, who frequently hid from the police in the rocky outcrops near the city.
- Population: 20,021 (2000)
- Area: 407 km2
- Elevation: 88 m
- Distance from the capital (Maceió): 291 km
- Climate: dry and hot, average annual temperature: 28 degrees Celsius
- Economic activity: fishing, agriculture, cattle raising, ecotourism.
Its architecture is late Empire, Northeast style of constructions. Water sports such as
catamarans,
sailboats and
canoes are available at river beaches and lakes, as well tours along the São Francisco using typical
paddle steamers (
gaiolas). Several
waterfalls, the mighty and wide river itself, the semi-arid and rough
caatinga, strange rock formations, and its river gorges are appreciated by tourists and trekkers for their natural beauty.
Piranhas can be reached by boat from several ports along the São Francisco, or by car, via a paved road from Maceió (AL-225).
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