Curitiba

Curitiba (krētē`bä), city (1996 pop. 1,465,698), capital of Paraná state, SE Brazil. It was founded in 1654 but was of little significance until the late 19th and early 20th cent., when immigrants (chiefly Germans, Italians, and Slavs) began to develop the Paraná hinterland. A commercial and processing center for an expanding agricultural and ranch area, Curitiba exports beer, maté, lumber, and livestock products through the Atlantic port of Paranaguá, c.70 mi (110 km) away. The city also produces paper and tobacco products, matches, textiles, cement, and cars. Curitiba grew rapidly after 1950; modern buildings house two universities, the state public library, and the governor's offices.

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Curitiba

City (pop., 2002 est.: city, 1,644,600; metro. area, 2,866,000), capital of Paraná state, southern Brazil. It lies about 3,000 ft (900 m) above sea level in the Brazilian Highlands near the headwaters of the Iguazú River. Founded in 1654 as a gold-mining camp, it became the state capital in 1854. From the early 19th century it received many European settlers, and immigration continued during the 20th century with the arrival of newcomers from Syria and Japan. It is a modern commercial centre. Its cathedral (1894) was inspired by that of Barcelona, Spain.