Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Southeast Region, Brazil

🇧🇷 Uberaba is a city in the state of Minas Gerais, south-east Brazil. It is located in the Brazilian Highlands at an elevation of 823 metres (2,700 ft) above sea level on the Uberaba River, and is situated 418 km (260 mi) from the state capital, Belo Horizonte. The city was granted its status in 1856 and derives its name from the Tupi language, meaning 'bright water'.

History The history of Uberaba traces its origins back to 1810, when Captain Major Eustaquio founded a settlement near the ancient Anhanguera route, commonly known as the "Goyazes road", to serve as a resting point for both locals and travelers during the 19th century. Its strategic location and function as a crossroads prompted local farmers to engage in crop cultivation and cattle domestication for commercial purposes, leading to the establishment of a robust livestock network in the region.

Initially a part of the Captaincy of Goias, the territory of Uberaba was incorporated into the Captaincy of Minas Gerais in 1816. It gained recognition as a parish in 1820 and was officially designated as a city in 1856.

The establishment of the inaugural railway station in 1889 marked a notable milestone in the history of Uberaba. This achievement was a result of the expansion of the Mogiana Railway from the neighboring municipality of Sacramento. The introduction of the railway system played a crucial role in fostering the growth of the local economy in the following years.

Currently, Uberaba is well-known for its lively livestock and agribusiness events. As an industrial hub, the city functions as a regional centre for culture, commerce, and entertainment, hosting a diverse array of institutions, markets, and entertainment venues.

The municipality also encompasses the district of Peirópolis, a paleontological site located in the rural area of Uberaba. Within this district, one can find the Paleontological Research Center Llewellyn Ivor Price (Centro de Pesquisas Paleontológicas Llewellyn Ivor Price), established as a tribute to Llewellyn Price, who worked extensively in the local area, and a museum dedicated to the fossils discovered in the vicinity.

Demographics Uberaba is the primary municipality in the Intermediate Geographic Region of Uberaba. In 2021, the Immediate Geographic Region of Uberaba comprised 10 municipalities spanning an area of 14,281.652 km² (5,514.17 sq mi). The municipalities within the region include: • Água Comprida • Campo Florido • Conceição das Alagoas • Conquista • Delta • Nova Ponte • Sacramento • Santa Juliana • Uberaba • Veríssimo.

Economy Uberaba is a significant producer of grains in the state, particularly corn, soybean, coffee, cotton, and sugarcane. The city is also renowned for hosting Expozebu, one of the world's largest cattle fairs held annually in May.

The service sector employs slightly over half of the city's population, followed by the manufacturing industry, and agriculture ranking third. The industrial sector encompasses various fields such as agribusiness, food processing, textile manufacturing, steel production, mining, chemical manufacturing, electronic devices, home appliances, and more.

Within the industrial park, there are processing plants operated by major chemical companies, including Mosaic (formerly Vale S.A.), FMC Corporation, Sipcam Nichino (UPL), and Yara.

Cargo transportation to other cities is primarily done via road and rail networks.

Crops • Bananas: 28 hectares • Coffee: 1,000 hectares • Oranges: 1,410 hectares • Tangerines: 168 hectares • Cotton: 3,145 hectares • Rice: 543 hectares • Peanuts: 100 hectares • Potatoes: 2,190 hectares • Sugarcane: 36,000 hectares • Onions: 450 hectares • Beans: 1,450 hectares • Cassava: 1,300 hectares • Corn: 50,000 hectares • Soybeans: 100,000 hectares • Sorghum: 1,250 hectares • Tomatoes: 240 hectares • Wheat: 336 hectares

Farming • Number of farms: 1,093 • Agricultural area: 282,692 ha. • Planted area: 105,000 ha. • Area of natural pasture: 112,678 • Workers directly employed by producers: 1,764 • Workers indirectly employed in the sector: 2,533

Paleontology Uberaba is recognised for housing a significant paleontological site in Brazil, boasting fossil records dating back approximately 80 to 66 million years, from the Late Cretaceous period.

The first paleontological discoveries in Uberaba were made by chance in 1945 when workers on a rural construction site accidentally came across well-preserved fossils. Subsequently, paleontologist Llewellyn Ivor Price, associated with the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM), conducted extensive scientific research in the region until 1974. The specimens collected during this period were later transferred to the Museum of Earth Sciences in Rio de Janeiro.

In 1991, the Municipality of Uberaba established the Paleontological Research Center Llewellyn Ivor Price, and Dinosaur Museum in the district of Peirópolis, located approximately 25 km from the city center. This research centre has emerged as a significant hub for paleontology in the country, housing laboratories, accommodations for researchers, and a technical reserve dedicated to preserving fossils.

The Research Center collaborates with various research institutions, both within Brazil and internationally, contributing to advancements in understanding the fossil fauna and environments of the Late Cretaceous in Uberaba.

In 2004, a significant finding occurred in the region of the Serra da Galga Formation, spanning across Uberaba municipality. Numerous fossils of the sauropod dinosaur Uberabatitan were discovered, making it one of the largest animals to have inhabited Brazil since the formation of the Earth.

As an integral part of the Research Center, the Dinosaur Museum plays a crucial role in disseminating paleontological knowledge to the general public through interactive and educational exhibitions, attracting an average of 100,000 visitors annually from various locations.

Transport Uberaba is served by Mário de Almeida Franco Airport.