Presidente Kennedy, municipality of Espírito Santo, Brazil
Presidente Kennedy is a small coastal city in Espírito Santo on Brazil's Atlantic shoreline. It covers an area of nearly 600 square kilometers and features several beaches, mangrove areas, and forested regions, with Praia de Marobá known for its cliffs and Praia das Neves for its calm waters.
Settlement began in the late 1500s when Jesuit priest José de Anchieta built a wooden church along the Itabapoana River in the Muribeca area, where the Puris and Botocudos peoples lived. The Igreja das Neves was constructed in the 1600s, and in 1963 the town became an independent municipality named in honor of the assassinated American President.
The city was originally named Batalha but took its current name in 1963 to honor President John F. Kennedy. Local traditions include fishing and making farinha, a homemade flour prepared using methods passed down from indigenous peoples and early settlers who still keep the craft alive in some communities.
The city sits about 160 kilometers south of Vitória and is reached via the BR-101 and ES-162 roads. The roads are well maintained, and the place offers a relaxed feel for exploring, with flat walking paths along the beaches and marked trails up Morro da Serrinha for those preferring hillside walks.
The city sits atop massive oil reserves deep beneath the ocean, particularly in the pre-sal layer where the Jubarte oil fields produce billions of barrels. These underground resources have made this small coastal town an important part of Brazil's energy sector and attract major companies.
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