Rio Grande

Rio Grande is a port municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil, extending along a flat peninsula where a wide channel links the Lagoa dos Patos to the Atlantic. The city is arranged around several docks and terminals, with broad streets running toward residential and commercial districts further inland.

Portuguese settlers built a military fort in 1737 to control the strategic channel and secure claims against Spanish rivals to the south. The settlement grew as a trading post and later developed into a major harbor for agricultural exports from the interior.

The name refers to the great river, though it is technically a channel connecting a lagoon to the sea. Fishing boats tie up at the docks every day, where families have made their living from the catch for generations and sell it fresh at local markets.

The city is accessible year-round, with quieter autumn and winter months drawing fewer visitors. Port areas are mostly open to the public, though some terminals have restrictions around loading zones.

A road bridge connects the mainland to Praia do Cassino, a beach stretching for many kilometers along the coast. This access makes the sands a popular day trip destination despite the distance.

Location: Rio Grande do Sul

Inception: 1737

Elevation above the sea: 12 m

Shares border with: Capão do Leão, Santa Vitória do Palmar, Arroio Grande, Pelotas

Website: http://riogrande.rs.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -32.03500,-52.09889

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:03