São José do Vale do Rio Preto, Administrative municipality in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil.
São José do Vale do Rio Preto is a municipality in Rio de Janeiro with rolling terrain and farmland. The region is home to three protected natural areas: Pedra das Flores Natural Monument, Maravilha Environmental Protection Area, and Araponga Municipal Nature Park.
The municipality was founded in 1894 and gained its administrative status during a period of agricultural development in Rio de Janeiro. This established the region as an important farming area in southeastern Brazil.
The residents, called Valeriopretanos, have deep ties to farming and grow oranges, coffee, cotton, rice, and beans across the region. These agricultural traditions shape daily life and give the place its character.
The area is accessible through major transportation networks in the southeast and offers various ways to explore natural areas and rural landscapes. Visitors should prepare for changing weather and hilly terrain, as elevation affects the climate.
The region blends highland landscapes with intensive farming and creates a rare mosaic of protected nature areas alongside crop fields. This combination of conservation areas and farms shows a local approach to balancing agriculture with land preservation.
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