Rio Quente, Thermal springs municipality in Goiás, Brazil
Rio Quente is a municipality in Goiás that centers on natural hot springs and thermal pools scattered throughout the region. The town sits at an elevation of 663 meters and offers multiple places to stay near the warm waters.
The thermal waters were discovered in 1722 by explorer Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva, attracting people to settle in the area. The territory remained part of a larger administrative region for centuries before becoming an independent municipality in 1989.
The Encontro de Folia das Águas Quentes festival brings residents together each year to celebrate through music, dance, and regional cooking. These gatherings reflect how thermal waters have shaped local traditions and social bonds over generations.
The municipality sits about 178 kilometers south of Goiânia and can be reached by road through the surrounding region. Visitors will find the terrain and road conditions easiest to navigate during the dry season.
The Ribeirão das Águas Quentes is the only naturally heated river with rapids in the Americas. This flow combines warm water with currents that create a rare natural phenomenon found in few other places worldwide.
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