Colatina, Commercial hub in Espírito Santo, Brazil.
Colatina is a commercial city in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, stretching across both banks of the Rio Doce river. The built environment spreads over gentle hills and flat sections near the water, with residential areas, shops, and public squares occupying different elevations.
Settlement began in the late 16th century with explorations along the Rio Doce by European expeditions. The construction of the first bridge in 1928 permanently connected the two riverbanks and allowed the expansion of urban areas northward.
Residents gather along the riverfront in the early evening to walk and talk as the heat fades, making the banks of the Rio Doce a natural meeting ground. This stretch of water separates older neighborhoods from newer districts on the opposite side and shapes how people move through the city each day.
Federal highways BR-101 and BR-259 lead directly into the city and connect it with Vitória to the south and other regions of the state. Visitors planning to explore the area should note that residential neighborhoods and commercial zones are spread across a wide territory.
The banks of the Rio Doce served for centuries as a boundary between colonized coastal areas and inaccessible rainforest regions further inland. Only with the construction of the bridge could the city assume its role as a passage point to remote stretches of land, which greatly influenced its growth.
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