Ceará
Ceará ([seaˈɾa] ⓘ, pronounced locally as [sjaˈɾa] or [siaˈɾa]) is one of the 26 states of Brazil, located in the northeastern part of the country, on the Atlantic coast. It is the eighth-largest Brazilian State by population and the 17th by area. It is also one of the main tourist destinations in Brazil. The state capital is the city of Fortaleza, the country's fourth most populous city. The state has 4.3% of the Brazilian population and produces 2.1% of the Brazilian GDP.
Ceará | |
|---|---|
| Estado do Ceará State of Ceará | |
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Coat of arms | |
| Motto(s): Terra da Luz (Portuguese) "Land of Light" | |
| Anthem: Hino do Ceará | |
Location of State of Ceará in Brazil | |
| Coordinates: 5.08°S 39.65°W | |
| Country | Brazil |
| Capital and largest city | Fortaleza |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Elmano de Freitas (PT) |
| • Vice Governor | Jade Romero (MDB) |
| • Senators | Augusta Brito (PT) Cid Gomes (PDT) Eduardo Girão (PODE) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 146,348.3 km2 (56,505.4 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 17th |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 8,452,381 |
| • Estimate (2019) | 9,132,078 |
| • Rank | 8th |
| • Density | 58/km2 (150/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 11th |
| Demonym | Cearense |
| GDP | |
| • Year | 2011 |
| • Total | US$ 39,590,000,000 (11th) |
| • Per capita | US$ 4,426 (23rd) |
| HDI | |
| • Year | 2021 |
| • Category | 0.734 – high (12th) |
| Time zone | UTC-3 (BRT) |
| Postal code | 60000-000 to 63990-000 |
| ISO 3166 code | BR-CE |
| Website | www |
Literally, the name Ceará means "sings the jandaia". According to José de Alencar, one of the most important writers of Brazil and an authority in Tupi Guaraní, Ceará means turquoise or green waters.
The state is best known for its extensive coastline, with 600 kilometers (370 mi) of sand. There are also mountains and valleys producing tropical fruits. To the south, on the border of Paraíba, Pernambuco and Piauí, is the National Forest of Araripe.