São Lourenço, Minas Gerais

São Lourenço (Saint Lawrence) is a Brazilian municipality and spa town in the southern part of the state of Minas Gerais, in the Southeast of the country. It is one of the smallest Brazilian municipalities, with only 57.2 km2 (22.1 sq. mi), and is located at an equal distance - approximately 3.5h - from two major cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

São Lourenço
Municipality of São Lourenço
Flag of São Lourenço
Official seal of São Lourenço
Motto: 
Acqua Vitæ Ignis Fidei
Location in Brazil
Location in Brazil
Coordinates: 22°06′57″S 45°03′14″W / 22.11583°S 45.05389°W / -22.11583; -45.05389
Country Brazil
RegionSoutheast
State Minas Gerais
MesoregionSouth and Southwest of Minas Gerais
MicroregionSão Lourenço
IncorporatedApril 1, 1927
Government
 • MayorWalter José Lessa (PTB)
Area
 • Total57.2 km2 (22.1 sq mi)
Elevation
875 m (2,871 ft)
Population
 (2020)[1]
 • Total46,202
 • Density583.3/km2 (1,511/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)
Postal Code
37470-000
HDI (2010)0.759 – high[2]
Websitesaolourenco.mg.gov.br

São Lourenço has a yearly mean temperature of 18 °C. In the winter the lows can reach 0 °C, sometimes with heavy frost.

The region has occasionally been affected by flooding; the most severe occurred in 1940, 1986, 1990 and 2000. In January 2000, heavy storms caused the waters of Rio Verde to rise more than 4.5m, leaving parts of the city underwater, including the city centre and the municipal park where the mineral water fountains are located.

Tourism is the main economic activity of the city although it has also become the regional hub for shopping, medical care, and banking. The city is served by Comte. Luiz Carlos de Oliveira Airport.

Throughout the year, several events take place in Sao Lourenço. They include the International Choir Festival, Cachaça Festival - cachaça is a hard liquor distilled from sugar cane juice, Winter Festival, Street Carnaval, Orchid Exhibits, Megacycle (a motorcyclists gathering), Vintage/Classic Cars Expo, a Hot Air Balloonists gathering, as well as several conferences of large Brazilian organizations.[citation needed]

In the beginning of August, the city celebrates its patron saint, Saint Lawrence, with a ten-day festival that includes live music, traditional food, and fireworks.

Climate edit

São Lourenço has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa) with rainy summers and warm, dry winters.

Climate data for São Lourenço, Minas Gerais (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.0
(84.2)
29.4
(84.9)
28.7
(83.7)
27.7
(81.9)
24.8
(76.6)
24.2
(75.6)
24.5
(76.1)
26.4
(79.5)
27.7
(81.9)
28.5
(83.3)
28.1
(82.6)
28.8
(83.8)
27.3
(81.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 22.4
(72.3)
22.3
(72.1)
21.6
(70.9)
19.8
(67.6)
16.4
(61.5)
15.1
(59.2)
14.8
(58.6)
16.6
(61.9)
19.2
(66.6)
21.0
(69.8)
21.3
(70.3)
22.1
(71.8)
19.4
(66.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 17.7
(63.9)
17.3
(63.1)
16.6
(61.9)
14.1
(57.4)
10.5
(50.9)
8.5
(47.3)
7.7
(45.9)
8.7
(47.7)
12.2
(54.0)
15.0
(59.0)
16.2
(61.2)
17.3
(63.1)
13.5
(56.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 319.2
(12.57)
187.0
(7.36)
164.4
(6.47)
72.2
(2.84)
57.5
(2.26)
27.7
(1.09)
24.2
(0.95)
20.4
(0.80)
73.2
(2.88)
119.5
(4.70)
174.3
(6.86)
254.6
(10.02)
1,494.2
(58.83)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 16.6 12.8 12.5 6.1 4.6 2.9 2.4 2.8 6.4 10.2 13.0 17.1 107.4
Average relative humidity (%) 78.4 77.7 78.8 77.5 79.5 80.2 75.7 68.3 66.2 70.2 74.5 77.8 75.4
Average dew point °C (°F) 19.1
(66.4)
18.9
(66.0)
18.5
(65.3)
16.9
(62.4)
14.1
(57.4)
12.7
(54.9)
11.9
(53.4)
12.2
(54.0)
14.0
(57.2)
16.2
(61.2)
17.3
(63.1)
18.7
(65.7)
15.9
(60.6)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 177.5 182.9 201.2 214.5 205.2 192.0 224.4 247.7 220.3 208.2 188.2 179.5 2,441.6
Source: NOAA[3]

References edit

  1. ^ IBGE 2020
  2. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — São Lourenço". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

External links edit

22°07′S 45°03′W / 22.117°S 45.050°W / -22.117; -45.050