Goiânia is the capital and the largest city in the state of Goiás. It is also the largest city de facto in the Central-Western Region of Brazil. With a population of nearly 1.27 million people, Goiânia is the twelfth largest city in Brazil. It is the anchor of the Goiânia metropolitan area, which has a population of over 2 million people, making it the eleventh largest metropolitan area in the country. It is also one of the richest cities in Brazil.
Goiânia is a planned city founded on October 24, 1933 by Pedro Ludovico, the governor of the state at the time. It is located on a fertile plain criss-crossed by numerous rivers, the most important being the Meia Ponte River. Goiânia is located at the geographic coordinates of 16°40' S, 49°15' W. The total area of the municipality, as of 2002, was 739.5 km² (285 sq mi).
Santa Genoveva National Airport connects Goiânia with many Brazilian cities.
The city is home to the Federal University of Goiás. |
