Linhares is the name of a municipality in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, north of the state capital, Vitória. It is the largest municipality by area in the state, at 9,501.6 km², and has a population of 176,688 people (2020). The municipality is named in honor of D. Rodrigo de Souza Coutinho,

Count of Linhares Count of Linhares (in Portuguese ''Conde de Linhares'') was a Portuguese title of nobility created by a royal decree of king John III of Portugal dated from May 13th, 1532, and granted to '' Dom'' António de Noronha, 2nd son of Pedro de Menez ...

, who was a minister in the Brazilian government in the first two decades of the 19th century. The city took international knowledge, being the residence of Miss Gay Brazil 2013 and 2014.

History

The area today known as Linhares was once inhabited by the Botocudo. The town, founded by Europeans on August 22, 1800 was destroyed by the Indians during a war in 1809. The area was visited by Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II in 1860. An island he set foot on is still known as the Emperor's Island. Linhares became a municipality in 1945, when it was detached from the municipality of Colatina.

Economy

The economy of Linhares is mostly based on commerce, agriculture, cattle and oil.

Geography

Linhares is characterized by undulating lowlands and numerous lakes. The town sits on the

Doce River The Doce River (literally the "sweet river"; pt, Rio Doce ) is a river in southeast Brazil with a length of . The river basin is economically important. In 2015 the collapse of a dam released highly contaminated water from mining into the river ...

amidst its 69 lakes. The climate is hot, tropical, and humid, typically with a dry winter season and a more humid summer. The main freshwater lagoons in the region are: Japaranã-Mirim, Palmas, Durão, Palminhas, Aguiá, Monsarás, Limão, Feia, Combóios, Piabanha, Óleo, Pau Grosso, Terra Alta and Patrão. The Juparanã Lagoon (freshwater) is also the second largest in water volume in the country. There is an official nudist beach called

Barra Seca Barra Seca is an official nude beach in Brazil. While elsewhere in Brazil people are generally prohibited to be naked in public places, in Barra Seca you must be nude in the family area (the main part of the beach). Around the periphery of the be ...

60 km to the east of Linhares. The municipality contains part of the

Comboios Biological Reserve Comboios Biological Reserve ( pt, Reserva Biológica de Comboios) is a biological reserve in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Location Comboios Biological Reserve is in the municipalities of Aracruz and Linhares, Espírito Santo. The coast ...

, a fully protected area. It also contains part of the

Sooretama Biological Reserve Sooretama Biological Reserve ( pt, Reserva Biológica de Sooretama is a biological reserve in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. History The area at present occupied by the reserve consists of two areas; one of was formerly the Parque de Re ...

, a strictly protected conservation unit created in 1982 when two earlier units were merged. It contains the Goytacazes National Forest, created in 2002.

References

Areias Brancas, Linhares

Guia do Turista

External links

* * {{Municipalities of Espírito Santo Populated places established in 1800 Populated coastal places in Espírito Santo Municipalities in Espírito Santo