Rio Grande do Norte: sand dunes and beaches

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The state of Rio Grande do Norte is located in the Northeast of Brazil, wedged between the Brazilian states of Ceará and Paraíba, and washed by the Atlantic ocean. Its dimensions are comparable to those of the Balkan state of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Atol das Rocas which are located in the Atlantic Ocean about 260 km north-east are part of the administrative territory of Rio Grande do Norte.

From a geographical point of view, most of the territory is made up of flat areas. In fact, more than half of the country is located at altitudes below 200 meters, only in the southern part there are low mountainous reliefs. The highest peak in the state is the Serra do Coqueiro (868 meters) which is located in the south-west, on the border between the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and Paraíba.

The most important city is the capital Natal, which is located along the east coast, in the place where the Portuguese founded, in 1598, the Fortaleza da Barra do Rio Grande.

A LONG SANDY COAST RICH IN DUNES

The coast of this Brazilian state stretches for about 400 km along the Atlantic ocean, and is full of sandy beaches. For this reason, this coast is among the most renowned seaside tourist areas in Brazil. Tourism is the most important economic activity in the state. In the region in addition to the beaches and seaside resorts such as Pipa, Genipabu and Maracajau. There are also historical references such as the Forte dos Reis Magos. Finally very popular are the famous dunes of Genipabu.

In addition to tourism, the main economic activities of Rio Grande do Norte are the extraction of oil, salt and other minerals. Important are also the production of fruit and other agricultural products.

The climate of Rio Grande do Norte.

• Area: 52,796 km²
• Population: 3,168,133 (2010) (mulattos 59.51%, whites 37.04%, blacks 3.08%, Asians 0.24%, indigenous 0.03%)
• Capital: Natal
• Time zone: UTC-3

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