Rio Grande do Sul

Lore & Background

Before the arrival of Portuguese and Spanish settlers, the region now known as Rio Grande do Sul was primarily inhabited by the Guarani and Kaingang peoples, with smaller populations of the Charrúa and Minuane. The first Europeans to arrive were Jesuit missionaries, followed by settlers from the Azores. The 19th century saw the state become a stage for major conflicts, including the Ragamuffin War and the Paraguayan War. Large waves of German and Italian immigration also profoundly shaped the state’s culture and demographics. Geographically, the northern part of the state lies on the southern slopes of a high plateau that extends southward from São Paulo, broken by low mountain ranges that appear as escarpments. A range of low mountains crosses the state southward into Uruguay. To the west of this range lies a vast grassy plain ideal for stock-raising, with the northern, elevated part suitable for sheep and the southern part for cattle. To the east is a low coastal zone containing two large estuarine lagoons, Lagoa dos Patos and Lagoa Mirim, separated from the Atlantic Ocean by sandy, partially barren peninsulas. The coast itself is a single great sand beach, broken only by the outlet of these lakes, called the Rio Grande. The state has two distinct river systems: one draining eastward to the lagoons, and the other flowing westward to the Uruguay River as part of the Río de la Plata basin. Key rivers of the eastern group include the Jacuí, Sinos, Caí, Gravataí, and Camaquã, which flow into Lagoa dos Patos, and the Jaguarão, which flows into Lagoa Mirim. The Guaíba River, though technically a lake, is broad and deep, providing extensive fluvial navigation. The Jacuí is among the most important rivers, rising in the northern Coxilha Grande ranges and flowing to the Guaíba estuary. The Uruguay River itself is formed by the confluence of the Canoas and Pelotas rivers. The largest lakes are Lagoa dos Patos, which lies parallel to the coast and is filled with sand banks, and Lagoa Mirim, which straddles the Uruguayan border and connects to Lagoa dos Patos via the São Gonçalo Channel. Both lakes are remnants of an ancient coastal depression. Fully one-third of the state belongs to the Río de la Plata drainage basin, with major westward-flowing streams including the Ijuí, Ibicuí, and Quaraí rivers.

Reader's Guide

Rio Grande do Sul holds significance as a border state with distinct cultural and historical ties to Argentina and Uruguay, reflected in its shared gaucho traditions. Its geography includes the Lagoa dos Patos and Lagoa Mirim, two large estuarine lagoons, and the Guaíba River, which provides extensive fluvial navigation. The state's economy contributes 6.6% of Brazil's GDP while housing 5.4% of the population. Its climate is predominantly humid subtropical, with occasional droughts and rare snowfalls in mountainous areas. The state is also notable for the Caturrita Formation, rich in Triassic fossils, including the cynodont Riograndia named after the state. The legacy of European migration, particularly German and Italian, remains evident in the state's demographics and culture.

Did You Know?

• The state has the highest life expectancy in Brazil and a relatively low crime rate compared to the national average.
• The Caturrita Formation in Rio Grande do Sul contains Triassic fossils, including the cynodont Riograndia named after the state.