Nova Iguaçu, Metropolitan municipality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nova Iguaçu sits in Rio de Janeiro state and spreads across a territory with urban neighborhoods, industrial zones, and protected areas such as the Tinguá reserve. The metropolitan area links residential districts with commercial centers through a network of roads and rail lines connecting the different parts of town.
The region was once home to the Jacutinga peoples before Portuguese settlers arrived in the 16th century. In January 1833, the territory gained status as an independent municipality and later grew into an important hub within the metropolitan area.
The name comes from Rio Iguaçu, a river whose designation derives from the Tupi language and means great water. The city has grown into a busy place where commuters travel daily and where markets, residential quarters, and commercial zones shape everyday activity.
Trains and highways allow visitors to move between neighborhoods and reach other places in the state. The wide residential and commercial districts are best explored using local transport, which runs regularly through the main zones.
The administration divides the municipal territory into nine government units covering 68 neighborhoods, grouped into five planning sectors. This system aims to make urban organization clearer and help deliver public services more easily to residents.
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