São LuÃs, Maranhão
São Luís on the map of Maranhão
São Luís is since 1621, the capital of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. In 2010 the population of São Luís crossed the 1 million mark. Mayor since January 1, 2013 Edivaldo Holanda Junior of the Christian Workers' Party ( Partido Trabalhista Cristão, PTC), who was elected on 28 October 2012, 56 percent of the vote.
Geographical Location
The city is located on the peninsula Ilha de São Luis between the Bay of São Marcos ( Baía de São Marcos ) and the Bay of São José ( Baía de São José ). At this point the Brazilian coast the tidal range is about seven meters, which exposed huge sand flats at low tide. São Luís is the terminus of the railway line Estrada de Ferro Carajás, which comes from the mines in this area to Carajás.
History
The origin of the town is in 1612, when the French in this not yet colonized by the Portuguese of Brazil built a fort. However, this fort was already in 1615 after one year of struggle to the Portuguese. 1631 the settlement was occupied by the Dutch, but in 1664 Portugal was not only here but throughout Brazil regained the upper hand. Characteristic of the old town are the ones with Portuguese tiles ( azulejos ) covered facades. The city center is protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1997.
Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
- Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão
Sons and daughters of the town
- Paulo Renato Rocha Santos ( born 1933), diplomat
- Tânia Maria ( b. 1948 ), pianist and singer
- Luis Oliveira (born 1969 ), football player
- José Clayton ( b. 1974 ), football player
- Rafael Leitão ( b. 1979 ), chess grandmaster
- Paulo César Rocha Rosa ( born 1980 ), football player
- Iziane Castro Marques ( b. 1982 ), basketball player
- Adaílson Pereira Coelho ( born 1986 ), football player
- Ana Paula Rodrigues ( * 1987), Women's Handball
- Ananias Eloi Castro Monteiro (* 1989), football player