Teresópolis

Teresópolis on the map of Rio de Janeiro

Teresópolis is a city in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, with around 150,000 inhabitants.

Geography

The municipality covers 770 km ². The city is located 90 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro in the Serra dos Órgãos at an altitude of 870 meters above sea level. This makes it the highest town in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

History

The first European settlers were English, who established themselves in 1820 in the region. On the site of the present Teresópolis then stood at the beginning of the 19th century a farm called Fazenda dos Órgãos around which formed a settlement.

A certain upturn witnessed the settlement only when the railway line that touches Teresópolis, was built. The city is connected properly to the coast but only when highways were also built into the hill country to Teresópolis.

Economy

The city lives mainly from agriculture. She is a leader in the production of vegetables and produces most of the vegetables consumed in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

In addition, there is an emerging tourism, which benefited from the mountain climate, the landscape and the area called the Vale dos gourmets, so Gourmet Valley.

Storm 2011

The surrounding area of the city was 11 January 2011 the scene of heavy rains that fell in the area of ​​Petrópolis, Teresópolis and Nova Friburgo and triggered mudslides, which claimed hundreds of victims. Thus, the water level of the river Rio rose as farce, which flows through the district Posse, within a short time by five meters.