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
  Total264.5 km2 (102.1 sq mi)
Elevation
16 m (52 ft)
Population
 (2020 [1] )
  Total39,064
  Density207.7/km2 (538/sq mi)
Time zone UTC−3 (BRT)
HDI (2000)0.821 – high [2]

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, 1961-1990 normals
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)
Average high °C (°F)26.7
(80.1)
27
(81)
26.9
(80.4)
24.7
(76.5)
22
(72)
19.6
(67.3)
18.5
(65.3)
19.2
(66.6)
19.8
(67.6)
21.9
(71.4)
23.8
(74.8)
25.7
(78.3)
23.0
(73.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)23.4
(74.1)
23.6
(74.5)
23.3
(73.9)
20.9
(69.6)
17.9
(64.2)
15.4
(59.7)
14.3
(57.7)
15.2
(59.4)
16.5
(61.7)
18.8
(65.8)
20.5
(68.9)
22.4
(72.3)
19.4
(66.8)
Average low °C (°F)20.4
(68.7)
20.6
(69.1)
20
(68)
17.3
(63.1)
14.1
(57.4)
11.9
(53.4)
10.7
(51.3)
11.8
(53.2)
13.4
(56.1)
15.9
(60.6)
17.3
(63.1)
19.2
(66.6)
16.1
(60.9)
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)156.3
(6.15)
164
(6.5)
142.9
(5.63)
102.9
(4.05)
116.5
(4.59)
102.8
(4.05)
111.9
(4.41)
134.8
(5.31)
132.4
(5.21)
127.9
(5.04)
119.4
(4.70)
95.3
(3.75)
1,507.1
(59.39)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)131211998991011109120
Average relative humidity (%)83.884.182.98283.184.784.585.28484.282.682.283.6
Mean monthly sunshine hours 202.3174.2189.1177.8170140.4160.6162147.7160.8193.6211.52,090
Source: INMET [4]

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. [5] It also contains the Itapeva State Park, created in 2002 to protect an area of dunes, restinga and meadows. [6]

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

Torres has some of the best surf spots in the state.[ citation needed ] Some of the best Brazilian surfers are from Torres.[ citation needed ]

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".

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florianópolis</span> Municipality in Santa Catarina, Brazil

Florianópolis is the capital and second largest city of the state of Santa Catarina, in the South region of Brazil. The city encompasses Santa Catarina Island and surrounding small islands, as well as part of the mainland. It has a population of 508,826, according to the 2020 IBGE population estimate, the second-most populous city in the state, and the 47th in Brazil. The metropolitan area has an estimated population of 1,111,702, the 21st largest in the country. The city is known for having the country's third highest Human Development Index score among all Brazilian cities (0.847).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caraguatatuba</span> Municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil

Caraguatatuba, widely known by its abbreviation Caraguá, is a city in the eastern part of the southern state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte. The population is 123,389 in an area of 485.10 km². Caraguatatuba is the largest city of São Paulo's north shore. The economy of the Caraguatatuba is driven by agriculture and tourism. The urban area and farmlands are within the coastline and valley areas, the majority of the northern part are heavily forested and rarely serves any roads to that area. The postal boundary dividing the 00000s and the 10000s lies to the southwestern boundary with Salesópolis.

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

Peruíbe is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista. The population is 69,001 in an area of 324.55 square kilometres (125.31 sq mi). Peruíbe is located to the southwest of the city of São Paulo and west of Santos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Lutzenberger</span>

José Antônio Kroeff Lutzenberger was a Brazilian agronomist and environmentalist. In 1988, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Award for his "contribution to protecting the natural environment in Brazil and worldwide".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itacoatiara</span> Neighborhood in Niterói, Brazil

Itacoatiara is one of the 48 official neighborhoods into which the city of Niterói, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is divided.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barra da Tijuca</span> District in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Barra da Tijuca is an upper-class neighborhood or bairro in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, located in the western portion of the city on the Atlantic Ocean. Barra is well known for its beaches, its many lakes and rivers, and its lifestyle. This neighbourhood represents 4.7% of the city population and 13% of the total area of Rio de Janeiro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Catarina Island</span>

Santa Catarina Island is an island in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, located off the southern coast. It is home to the state capital, Florianópolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia do Cassino</span> Beach in Brazil

Praia do Cassino (Portuguese for Casino Beach) is the world's longest sea beach and is located in the southernmost of the Brazilian coast, on the South Atlantic Ocean, in the Rio Grande do Sul state. It is the longest uninterrupted sandy seashore in the world, with various sources measuring it from 212 kilometres (132 mi) to 254 kilometres (158 mi), stretching from the Molhes (breakwaters) at the entrance of the Rio Grande seaport in the north to the mouth of the Chuí Stream, on the border with Uruguay, in the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ilha dos Lobos</span> Island and wildlife refuge in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Ilha dos Lobos is a small island and wildlife refuge on the Atlantic coast of Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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

Guaratuba is a city in the state of Paraná, Brazil. Founded on 1765, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches of Paraná.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia do Guincho</span> Beach in Portugal

Praia do Guincho is an Atlantic beach located on Portugal's Estoril coast, 5 km from the town of Cascais, and is located in the municipality of Cascais, more precisely in the parishes of Cascais and Alcabideche, in the District of Lisbon. Guincho is situated close to several small villages, including Areia, Charneca, Figueira do Guincho and Biscaia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipa Beach</span>

Pipa Beach is one of the most famous beaches of Brazil. Located next to city of Natal, the capital city of state of Rio Grande do Norte. Is located more precisely in municipality of Tibau do Sul, exactly 84 km from the capital of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caçapava do Sul</span> Municipality in South, Brazil

Caçapava do Sul is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located on the banks of the Camaquã River. As of 2020, the city has an estimated population of 33,548. It was the 2nd capital of the Piratini Republic from 1839 to 1840.

Guarita Beach is a Brazilian beach in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is a public resort that stretches along 23 kilometers on the coast the city of Torres. It borders with Santa Catarina and can be accessed through two roads, the BR-101 and the RS-389, which is the last road before reaching the sea. The city of Torres is 197 km far from Porto Alegre and 280 km far from Florianópolis. The beach is located between the "towers" the city is named after, and is flanked by the Morro das Furnas to the north and the Morro da Guarita to the south. It includes an environmentally-protected area, the Parque da Guarita.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia do Sul Biological Reserve</span>

Praia do Sul State Biological Reserve is a biological reserve on the island of Ilha Grande, in the State of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Póvoa de Varzim beaches</span> Group of golden sandy beaches in northern Portugal

The beaches in Póvoa de Varzim are an extensive and continuous group of golden sandy beaches forming small bays or coves along the shoreline in northern Portugal. These do not have any barrier and are in fact a single beach, over 12 km long, under the name Praia da Póvoa de Varzim. Division may be arbitrary and serve localization porpoises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praia de Vale dos Homens</span>

Praia do Vale dos Homens is a beach within the Municipality of Aljezur, in the Algarve, Portugal. The beach is on the western seaboard in the north west of the Algarve. The beach is 1.7 miles (2.7 km) north west of the village of Rogil, and is 72.4 miles (116.5 km) north west, by road, from the region's capital of Faro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ilha do Mel State Park</span>

The Ilha do Mel State Park is a state park in the state of Paraná, Brazil, located in the municipality of Paranaguá. It is a very small island, with a lot of fauna and flora, due to its small index of urbanization. It has 25 kilometers of beaches, and the population of the Island is distributed among some small villages: Encantadas, Nova Brasilia, Farol, Praia Grande and Fortaleza.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guarita State Park</span> State park in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

The Guarita State Park, officially the Parque Estadual José Lutzenberger, is a state park in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It protects a promontory on the South Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Itapeva State Park</span>

The Itapeva State Park is a state park in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

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. "Normais climatológicas do Brasil 1961-1990" (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  5. Parque da Guarita (in Portuguese), Municipality of Torres, retrieved 2016-12-05
  6. Parque Estadual de Itapeva (in Portuguese), Instituto Curicaca, retrieved 2016-12-05

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