Espírito Santo, State region in southeastern Brazil
Espírito Santo is a state in southeastern Brazil, lying between the Atlantic coast and mountainous inland terrain. Rivers run through green valleys and flat coastal strips.
Portuguese explorer Vasco Fernandes Coutinho founded the first settlement on May 23, 1535, starting colonial development in the region. European immigrants arrived in the 19th century, reshaping agriculture and local culture.
Descendants of Portuguese, Indigenous peoples, Africans, Germans, and Italians live side by side, keeping alive different customs in music, cooking, and festivals. In smaller towns you still hear dialects and regional songs passed down through generations.
Several ports along the coast connect the state with international shipping routes and other Brazilian regions. Distances are large, so planning trips in advance and checking the location of individual places helps.
The Doce River crosses the north, carrying iron ore from inland mountains to the coast for decades. Its mouth forms a wide delta with lagoons and mangroves, known for birdwatching.
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