Volta Redonda, Industrial city in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Volta Redonda is an industrial city in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, spread along the Paraíba do Sul River at roughly 390 meters elevation between the Rio and São Paulo metropolitan regions. The river forms a marked circular bend at this point, giving the area its characteristic topography and encouraging development along both banks.
The founding of the Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional's Gilherme Guinle steel plant in 1942 turned this area into one of South America's leading steel production centers. The facility drew thousands of workers and prompted rapid growth of the settlement, which became a separate municipality.
The name comes from the round bend of the Paraíba do Sul, which forms a full circle here and gives the city its geographic identity. Many residents work in the steel industry or related sectors, shaping social life around factory shifts and industrial rhythms.
Two railroad lines and major highways link the city to Rio de Janeiro, 130 kilometers away, and to São Paulo's industrial centers. The location between both metropolitan regions makes day trips and stopovers on longer overland journeys straightforward.
Many educational facilities, including technical schools and universities, concentrate on industrial engineering and metallurgical studies, making the city a training hub for technical professions. This focus mirrors the economic base and draws students from across the region.
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