ARAXA - M.G. - Brazil - Location and History

ARAXA - M.G. - Brazil

Araxa is a small town in Southeast Brazil, located at 19º 35' 33" S and 46º 56' 26" W and it is 973 metres high. It has a mild whether throughout the year. It is 375 km (W) away from Belo Horizonte, 649 km from Brasilia (SE), the country´s Capital, 830 km from Rio de Janeiro (NW), 581 km from São Paulo (NW). The town was named after the indian tribe "Araxas" who lived there at the time it was first discovered and the name means "the place from where the sun is seen first".
Now the town is known world wide for its medicinal waters : radioactive and sulphurous.

History:

For many years the place was inhabited by the Indian Tribe "Araxas". In the 18th Century the catle breeders and farmers arrived, attracted by the quality of the fertil soil, the climate and the mineral waters.

In 1791 the "Freguesia de São Domingos do Araxa" was created; in 1831 the place became a "Village" and in 1865 the village was upgraded to the town category.

In 1944 President Getulio Vargas inaugurated the "Hydrothermal Complex Grande Hotel" in a place known as Barreiro, which is 5 km from town centre.

In the 60's and 70's the mining of niobium and phosphated fertilizer expanded and also the industrial activity.