Passa-Quatro is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

in the state of

Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte (literally ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. The population is 16,393 (2020 est.) in an area of 277.22 km².Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística
/ref> It is part of the microrregion of São Lourenço.

Environment

The city was declared a hydro-mineral

spa A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water (and sometimes seawater) is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts (including hot springs resorts) typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneoth ...

in 1941 due to its various fountains of torio-

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is consid ...

waters, which are reputedly sought out for curing liver and kidney problems. The winter is dry and the summer mild with temperatures varying between 16 and 22 degrees Celsius. In winter they can drop to 0 degrees with strong frost. This rural area has views of four of the ten highest peaks in the country. Trout fishing is possible all year. A tourist train service (narrow gauge) was inaugurated in the beginning of 2004 between the cities of Passa Quatro and Manacá. The municipality contains the Passa Quatro National Forest, created in 1968. The forest is controlled by IBAMA and has native forest, exotic species, lakes, and the Iporã waterfall.

History

The origin of the name comes from the explorations of the bandeirante Fernão Dias Paes Leme who was given instructions to pass over a river four times, thus "Passa Quatro". The first inhabitants settled the region in 1674. The region wasn't populated until the second half of the 19th century when it became a district in 1854. In 1884, the Minas-Rio railway was constructed by the

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

and spurred its development. Emperor Dom Pedro II elevated the town to a city in 1888.

Geography

Mountains include the fourth tallest peak in Brazil, the Pedra da Mina (2,798 m) located within Serra Fina and the point of

Serra da Mantiqueira The Mantiqueira Mountains (Portuguese: ''Serra da Mantiqueira iterally: Mantiqueira Mountains Chain') are a mountain range in Southeastern Brazil, with parts in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. It rises abruptly from the ...

where the boundary of

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaWC a ...

is located. The Pico dos Três Estados is another landmark located on the boundaries of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

. There are dozens of other peaks over 2,000 m.

New Climber Point

Passa Quatro has a newer point of climber at Brasil, compared to Siurana: Gruta de Passa Quatro (Cave of Four Passes). There are a big negative and the local climbers are working to open the roads in this place. (The climbing point is in Passa Vinte, not in Passa Quarto)

References

External links

Passa Quatro (in Portuguese)
{{Geographic location , North =

Itanhandu Itanhandu is a city in the south of Minas Gerais, Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million pe ...

, West = Marmelópolis and

Virgínia Virgínia is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the cou ...

, Center = Passa-Quarto , East =

and

Itamonte Itamonte is a city in the south of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Its population was 15,714 (2020) and its area is 432 km². Location Itamonte is a touristic city in the Serra da Mantiqueira mountains. The territorial area is 430,597 km² big. The ci ...

, South = In São Paulo:
Cruzeiro,

Lavrinhas Lavrinhas is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is formed by the seat and district of Pinheiros (which includes the hamlet of Capela do Jacu). The municipality is crossed by many rivers, creeks and so on; the main ones are: Jac ...

and Queluz Municipalities in Minas Gerais