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Montes Claros

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Montes Claros, Regional capital in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil

Description

Montes Claros is a regional capital in the northern part of Minas Gerais and sits in a hilly landscape about 260 miles (417 km) from Belo Horizonte. The downtown area spreads across several parallel streets that cluster around a central square and are lined with low buildings.

History

The settlement began in 1768 under the name Arraial de Formigas on the site of a cattle farm. In 1857 the place officially received city status.

Culture

The city's name means "clear mountains" and refers to the hills around the center, visible from a distance on clear days. Residents use the main square and surrounding streets as a meeting point in the evening, especially on weekends.

Practical

The city has its own regional airport that offers regular connections to the state capital. Several universities are located within the city limits and attract students from the entire region.

Did you know?

The Lapa Grande cave system stretches for around 3 kilometers (2 miles) beneath the surface and can be partially visited. In the passages lie fossilized remains of animals that lived here thousands of years ago.

Location
Elevation above the sea
895 m
Shares border with
Glaucilândia, Mirabela, Claro dos Poções, Coração de Jesus, Bocaiúva, São João da Lagoa, Patis, Francisco Sá, São João da Ponte, Juramento, Capitão Enéas
GPS coordinates
-16.73222,-43.86361
Latest update
December 14, 2025 21:36

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« Montes Claros - Regional capital in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil » is provided by Around Us (aroundus.com). Images and texts are derived from Wikimedia project under a Creative Commons license. You are allowed to copy, distribute, and modify copies of this page, under the conditions set by the license, as long as this note is clearly visible.

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