Erechim, Planned municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Erechim is a municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, situated on a highland plateau at 783 meters (2,569 feet) elevation. The streets form a grid pattern with wide avenues that intersect at several central squares.
The settlement was established in 1918 along a railroad line connecting Rio Grande do Sul to São Paulo. In the following decades, the region developed into an important center for wheat farming in southern Brazil.
The name comes from the Guarani language and means "small field", a reference to the open grasslands that once covered this highland region. Many residents still celebrate Italian festivals and German harvest customs during the year, reflecting the roots of families who settled here generations ago.
Travelers reach the city through the local airport with scheduled flights or via paved highways from Porto Alegre and other regional centers. The cooler highland climate requires light jackets year-round, especially during winter months.
The urban layout follows a radial scheme with diagonal axes extending from central roundabouts, similar to Washington D.C. This design made the city one of the first planned urban projects in southern Brazil with a modern European-inspired layout.
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