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Teresina is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Piauà and the only inland capital in the northeastern region of the country. The central part of the city is situated between the ParnaÃba and Poti rivers, as a result, the city is sometimes referred to as the "Mesopotamia of the Northeast." In the northern section of the city, the two rivers flow together and continue on toward the Atlantic. There is an environmental park at the confluence, with a viewing platform, which allows viewing from close range. Across the ParnaÃba River from the capital lies the smaller city of Timon, and further still, the border of the state of Maranhão. The city of Teresina is home to over 752,000 inhabitants, distributed over an area of 1,680 km² (650 mi²). Its metropolitan area has about 996,000 inhabitants. The surrounding region is referred to as the Chapada do Corisco. The city was originally named Vila Nova do Poti, after the Poti River, and was later renamed Teresina in honor of the Empress Theresa Cristina, the wife of Dom Pedro II. The city has been the capital of the state since 1852, when it was founded by the governor of the province, José Saraiva, transferring the administrative headquarters of the province of Piauà from the city of Oeiras. Teresina was the first planned city in Brazil (earlier than the well-known planned capital city of BrasÃlia, founded in 1960, and Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, founded in 1897); its design is said to be reminiscent of a chessboard. It is divided into quarters, with Mocambinho being the most populous quarter. It is known as the "Green City" because of the countless mango trees that line its streets. Local crafts include ceramics. A monument depicts the legendary Cabeça de Cuia, a personality from local folklore. As it is located near the Equator, high temperatures in Teresina vary between 26 and 40 degrees Celsius (79 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the year, with the lowest temperatures occurring in the first 5 months of the year. The hottest time of the year is October through December. Humidity is high year-round, with a low of approximately 40% and a high of about 90%, but is highest (80%-90%) from March to June. It is part of a highly urbanized complex known as Região Integrada de Desenvolvimento da Grande Teresina (Region Integrated Development of Large Teresina). |
