Aruanã


Aruanã is a municipality in north-western Goiás state, Brazil. The population is 8,746 in an area of 3050.31 km2. Aruanã is located on the Araguaia River, 324 km from the state capital, Goiânia, 59 km northwest of Araguapaz. It is part of the Rio Vermelho Microregion.

Municipal Boundaries

Municipal boundaries:
The climate is moist tropical with an average temperature of 27 °C, with two well defined seasons: dry and rainy, with regular rainfall in the period of October to March. This type of climate favors the formation of vegetation made up of savanna, broken by farmland and pastureland. There are still stands of tropical forest, especially near the rivers.
The town is located on the Araguaia River and attracts thousands of tourists, especially in the dry season, from May to August, when extensive sandbanks are formed providing beaches for sunbathers and swimmers. There is also extensive sport fishing in the region.

Economy

In addition to tourism, the economy is based on cattle raising and agriculture. The cattle herd had 205,000 head in 2003. There is also large hardwood extraction and small lumbermills.
Main crops in planted area are corn and rice.
The main economic activities were agriculture, commerce, hotels and restaurants, and public administration. There is a large informal economy. There is financial Institution: Banco Itaú S.A.

Health and education

For the complete list see .

History

The history of Aruanã began with the building of a military fort in 1849 at the point where the Rio Vermelho enters the Rio Araguaia. The region was occupied by the Carajá Indians. The fort was called Leopoldina and later Santa Leopoldina. In 1868 the first steam boats appeared on the Araguaia and the settlement was a major port. In 1939 the name was changed to Aruanã, a native fish and the dance of the local Indians, and the village became a district in the municipality of Goiás. In 1958 it became an independent municipality.