Balsas

Balsas is a municipality in southern Maranhão that spreads across agricultural plains and natural Cerrado vegetation. The landscape consists primarily of farming areas mixed with patches of native scrubland and grassland formations.

The region developed into an agricultural hub during the late 1900s through expansion of soybean farming. This shift transformed the economy and established it as a major production center in the state.

The population of Balsas maintains traditional festivals that combine indigenous practices with Portuguese colonial influences throughout the calendar year.

Daily bus connections link the region to major cities in Maranhão state from the central terminal. Regular transportation services make arriving and leaving straightforward for visitors and commuters.

The area sits within the MATOPIBA agricultural frontier, one of Brazil's most productive grain-growing zones in the Northeast. This location makes it a key farming center outside the country's traditional southern agricultural heartland.

Location: Maranhão

Elevation above the sea: 535 m

Shares border with: Riachão, Tasso Fragoso, São Raimundo das Mangabeiras, Alto Parnaíba, Campos Lindos, Fortaleza dos Nogueiras, Lizarda, Nova Colinas, Recursolândia, Sambaíba

Website: https://balsas.ma.gov.br

GPS coordinates: -7.53278,-46.03583

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:59