Torres, Rio Grande do Sul

Last updated
Torres
City
Torres, Torres - RS, Brazil - panoramio - rafael alexandre de ... (6).jpg
Torres bandeira.jpg
Torres (RS) - Brasao.png
RioGrandedoSul Municip Torres.svg
Coordinates: 29°20′31″S49°43′47″W / 29.34194°S 49.72972°W / -29.34194; -49.72972
Country Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil
Region South
State Bandeira do Rio Grande do Sul.svg Rio Grande do Sul
FoundedMarch 28, 1878
Government
  MayorJoão Alberto Machado Cardoso
Area
  Total
264.5 km2 (102.1 sq mi)
Elevation
16 m (52 ft)
Population
 (2020 [1] )
  Total
39,064
  Density207.7/km2 (538/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2000)0.821 – high [2]
Website torres.rs.gov.br

Torres is a city on the coast of south Brazil in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. The city has a population of approximately 40,000 inhabitants, of which 10,000 live in rural zones, but in summer the number of inhabitants reaches 300,000.

Contents

History

The municipality's name derives from the three basalt towers standing in the ocean, giving the beach its distinctive appearance. On March 21, 1878, by provincial law, Torres became a municipality. Today, with a population of 33,686 permanent inhabitants, Torres is an important tourist centre, with more than fifty hotels, restaurants and bars. Local cuisine is influenced by international and Mediterranean cuisine, with seafood prevailing.

Geography

Unlike the rest of the state's coast, which is uninterrupted sandy beach, Torres boasts four high rocky formations standing in the sea. These vertical columns are almost 40 meters high and contain several caves created by the action of the waves over the years, locally called furnas. These rocky formations rise up from the sea creating an impressive scenario.

Climate

The climate in Torres is humid subtropical (Cfa). Summers are warm and the hottest month is February, with an average temperature of 23 °C (73.4 °F). Winters are cool and the coldest month is July, with an average temperature of 15 °C (59 °F). The wettest month is March, with 142 mm (5.6 in) of precipitation. The average annual temperature in the city is 19 °C (66.2 °F) and the average annual precipitation is 1,390 mm (54.72 in), with rain regularly falling all year long. [3]

On March 28, 2004, the Hurricane Catarina hit Torres with winds of about 150 km/h causing extensive damage. This was a rare event for the region.

Climate data for Torres (1991–2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)36.0
(96.8)
34.5
(94.1)
37.8
(100.0)
34.6
(94.3)
33.8
(92.8)
32.7
(90.9)
33.5
(92.3)
35.8
(96.4)
36.0
(96.8)
33.9
(93.0)
35.0
(95.0)
41.4
(106.5)
41.4
(106.5)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)27.4
(81.3)
27.6
(81.7)
27.1
(80.8)
25.2
(77.4)
22.2
(72.0)
19.9
(67.8)
18.7
(65.7)
19.5
(67.1)
20.3
(68.5)
22.3
(72.1)
24.1
(75.4)
26.2
(79.2)
23.4
(74.1)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.9
(75.0)
24.0
(75.2)
23.3
(73.9)
21.1
(70.0)
17.9
(64.2)
15.4
(59.7)
14.3
(57.7)
15.5
(59.9)
16.9
(62.4)
19.1
(66.4)
20.7
(69.3)
22.7
(72.9)
19.6
(67.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)20.8
(69.4)
20.9
(69.6)
19.9
(67.8)
17.5
(63.5)
14.3
(57.7)
11.8
(53.2)
10.8
(51.4)
12.0
(53.6)
13.8
(56.8)
16.2
(61.2)
17.4
(63.3)
19.4
(66.9)
16.2
(61.2)
Record low °C (°F)11.2
(52.2)
13.5
(56.3)
10.2
(50.4)
6.3
(43.3)
4.2
(39.6)
−0.2
(31.6)
1.2
(34.2)
1.0
(33.8)
3.0
(37.4)
7.0
(44.6)
8.8
(47.8)
8.6
(47.5)
−0.2
(31.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)168.6
(6.64)
172.2
(6.78)
152.6
(6.01)
108.1
(4.26)
121.1
(4.77)
103.0
(4.06)
121.8
(4.80)
125.7
(4.95)
138.3
(5.44)
144.4
(5.69)
112.6
(4.43)
114.6
(4.51)
1,583
(62.32)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)12121088898101199114
Average relative humidity (%)83.483.682.682.383.885.185.185.184.684.281.982.583.7
Mean monthly sunshine hours 202.3174.2189.1177.8170.0140.4160.6162.0147.7160.8193.6211.52,090
Source: Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia (sun 1961–1990) [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Sites of interest

Guarita State Park Visao da torre sul a partir da torre do meio - panoramio.jpg
Guarita State Park
Guarita beach Torres-guarita23.jpg
Guarita beach

The municipality contains the Guarita State Park, created in 1971 to protect a headland on the Atlantic Ocean. [12] It also contains the Itapeva State Park, created in 2002 to protect an area of dunes, restinga and meadows. [13]

Tourists may visit the Ilha dos Lobos (Island of the Wolves), which is located directly in front of the Praia Grande beach, approximately 1700 meters off shore. Hiking is possible in the nearby mountains of the Serra do Mar.

Itapeva Beach is 6 km away, located beyond Guarita park. It takes its name from Itapeva hill. Itapeva in Tupi–Guarani means "crushed stone".[ citation needed ] Guarita Beach is located in Guarita Park, surrounded by the towers "Centro" – Centre -, "Sul" – South -, and Guarita after which the park was named.[ citation needed ]

Furnas Hill is the largest of the towers. It is also called torre do Meio – Middle tower. It lies six hundred meters away from the city lighthouse. Cal beach lies between them. Cal beach is eight hundred meters long; it is one of the preferred places for surfing practice.[ citation needed ] Its name derives from the ovens located here until 1940 used to heat shells for the lime.

Prainha beach (or do meio beach) is six hundred meters long. It has a rocky soil. Praia Grande beach is 2 km long; it is preferred for sea bathing and sports such as soccer, volleyball, surfing, kitesurfing and several others. Outdoor shows are also organized on Praia Grande beach.

Transportation

Torres is served by Torres Airport.

Surfing

Rocky mountains and other geological formations provide natural protection from strong winds and create good shape for the sea bottom, creating ideal surfing conditions.

The best season for surfing is winter (May–September), with waves up to 3 meters high and cold water. During the summer the waves are smaller and the northeast wind usually jeopardizes surfing conditions.

It is possible to practice Tow-in surfing in a point break near Ilha dos Lobos and waves as high as 10 meters have been registered there; however, access is difficult and good conditions are rare.

Hot air ballooning

Currently, Brazil is the Latin American country with the largest number of hot air balloons and hot air balloonists.[ citation needed ] There are about 45 hot air balloons for 30 registered pilots divided into three hot air ballooning clubs.[ citation needed ] These are located in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte. Since 1989, Torres has sponsored an annual hot air balloon festival, and in 1995, during its seventh season, the city gained the title of "Brazilian Capital of Hot Air Ballooning".

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boa Esperança, Espírito Santo</span> Municipality in Southeast, Brazil

Boa Esperança is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Its population was 15,092 (2020) and its area is 429 km². Its average altitude is 140 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">São Mateus, Espírito Santo</span> Municipality in Southeast, Brazil

São Mateus is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Its population was estimated at 132,642 in 2020, and its area is 2,346 km². São Mateus is located at 36 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muniz Freire, Espírito Santo</span> Municipality in Brazil

Muniz Freire is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Its population was 17,319 (2020) and its area is 680 km2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arinos</span> Place in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Arinos is a municipality in northern Minas Gerais state in Brazil. Arinos is located east of the Federal District on the Urucuia River, a major tributary of the São Francisco. The city is 333 km from Brasília.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alagoinhas</span> Place in Nordeste, Brazil

Alagoinhas is a city in the Brazilian state of Bahia. It is located at around 12°8′9″S38°25′8″W. It was founded in 1852. In 1974, the city was made the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alagoinhas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itacoatiara, Amazonas</span> Municipality in North, Brazil

Itacoatiara is a municipality in the central eastern portion of state of Amazonas, inland northern Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santo Antônio de Leverger</span> Municipality in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Santo Antônio de Leverger is a municipality in the southern part of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The population is 16,999 in an area of 12,261.29 km2 (4,734.11 sq mi). Its elevation is 141 m (463 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iguaba Grande</span> Municipality in Southeast, Brazil

Iguaba Grande is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro. Its population was 28,837 (2020) and its area is 54 km².

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paty do Alferes</span> Place in Southeast, Brazil

Paty do Alferes is a municipality located in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Vitória do Palmar</span> City in South, Brazil

Santa Vitória do Palmar is a Brazilian city and municipality. It is the southernmost municipality in Brazil, located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. To the west of the municipality is the Lagoa Mirim and beyond that is Uruguay; to the east and southeast lies the Atlantic Ocean, and to the north is the city of Rio Grande. To the south, it borders the municipality of Chuí and Uruguay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate of Brazil</span>

The climate in Brazil varies considerably from mostly tropical north to temperate zones south of the Tropic of Capricorn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bom Jesus, Rio Grande do Sul</span> Municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Bom Jesus is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Its population was approximately 11,309 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Encruzilhada do Sul</span> Municipality in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Encruzilhada do Sul is a municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Janaúba</span> Town in Brazil

Janaúba is a municipality in the north of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. In 2020 the population was 72,018 in a total area of 2,189 km2. The elevation is 692 meters above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juramento</span> Municipality in the north of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais

Juramento is a municipality in the north of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2020 the population was 4,345 in a total area of 432 km2. It became a municipality in 1953.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbonita</span> Municipality in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Carbonita is a municipality in the northeast of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. As of 2020 the population was 9,414 in a total area of 1,454 km2. The elevation of the town center is 751 meters. It is part of the IBGE statistical meso-region of Jequitinhonha and the micro-region of Capelinha. It became a municipality in 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cametá</span> Place in Norte, Brazil

Cametá is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Pará.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cristino Castro</span> Municipality in Nordeste, Brazil

Cristino Castro is a municipality in the state of Piauí in the Northeast region of Brazil. A significant production of cacao, latex and bananas takes place in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lago Sul</span> Administrative region in Central-West, Brazil

Lago Sul is an administrative region in the Federal District in Brazil. It is located on the south side of the eastern shore of Lake Paranoá, opposite of Brasília and Lago Norte. The Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport is located in the southwesternmost edge of the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Núcleo Bandeirante</span> Administrative region in Central-West, Brazil

Núcleo Bandeirante is an administrative region in the Federal District in Brazil. It is located to the west of Paranoá Lake, being bordered by Arniqueira, Park Way, and Guará to the north, Candangolândia to the east, and Park Way and Riacho Fundo to the south. Núcleo Bandeirante was founded on December 19, 1956, receiving the status of administrative region, according to Law 4545, of December 10, 1964.

References

  1. IBGE 2020
  2. UNDP
  3. (in Portuguese) Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, The Weather Channel (in Portuguese), accessed on September 16, 2009.
  4. "Temperatura Máxima Mensal e Anual (°C)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  5. "Temperatura Média Compensada Mensal e Anual (°C)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  6. "Temperatura Mínima Mensal e Anual (°C)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  7. "Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  8. "Número de dias no mês ou no ano com precipitação maior ou igual a (1 mm) (dias)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  9. "Umidade Relativa do Ar Compensada Mensal e Anual (%)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  10. "Insolação Total (horas)". Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991-2020 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  11. "Normais climatológicas do Brasil 1961-1990" (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  12. Parque da Guarita (in Portuguese), Municipality of Torres, retrieved 2016-12-05
  13. Parque Estadual de Itapeva (in Portuguese), Instituto Curicaca, retrieved 2016-12-05

29°19′36″S49°46′03″W / 29.32667°S 49.76750°W / -29.32667; -49.76750