RIO GRANDE DO NORTE

CAPITAL

The city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte, is the birthplace of postcards such as Morro do Careca, located on Ponta Negra Beach

Located in the Brazilian Northeast, Rio Grande do Norte is a state with about 3.5 million inhabitants distributed in 167 municipalities, many of which stand out for tourism. With an area of 52,809 square kilometers, the state borders Paraíba and Ceará.

With a tropical climate, Rio Grande do Norte has vegetation predominantly belonging to the Caatinga, in addition to formations of Mangrove, Restinga and Atlantic Forest. It was colonized by European immigrants, Capital: especially Portuguese, natal French and Dutch, as well as indigenous natives and African populations, influencing the local culture.

The city of Natal, capital of Rio Grande do Norte, is the birthplace of postcards such as Morro do Careca, located on Ponta Negra Beach, Barreira do Inferno and Forte dos Reis Magos. The city is also home to Parque das Dunas, the second largest urban park in the country. The attraction is also recognized by Unesco as an integral part of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve.

As we mentioned above, there is no shortage of attractions in the state capital. Forte dos Reis Magos is a military building built in 1949 to protect the Portuguese who were in conflict with the French and the Indians. At the site, which is on the banks of the Potengi River and is also the city’s first construction, it is possible to find artifacts from the time when it was active.

You cannot miss the Mercado da Redinha, which is located on Praia da Redinha, at the mouth of the Potengi River, and which is considered an intangible heritage of Natal or even the contemplation of the sunset during the catamaran ride on the same river. On Pirangi beach is also the largest cashew tree in the world. It has an area of approximately 8,500 square meters of canopy and produces about 2 and a half tons of fruit per harvest.

In the West Zone, there is the Costa Branca, a region that is home to virgin beaches, where the vegetation of the hinterland meets the sea, colored by the dunes and cliffs. Among the highlights are Soledade beach, in the oil prospecting area. It has a different look, a result of the constant burning of gases from oil exploration. At night, the fire torches become a tourist attraction.

Close to Ponta Negra, Barreira do Inferno, the Brazilian Air Force Base, is the first in South America for rocket launches and draws attention for its vibrant red tone at dawn, which reflects the sun’s rays into the sea. The name was given to the cliffs by local fishermen. The attraction is on Rodovia RN 063 Km 11, in the city of Parnamirim, in the Metropolitan Region of Natal.

Photo: Frankie Marcone - MTur

With a tropical climate, Rio Grande do Norte stands out for its amazing beaches

Photo: Ney Douglas - MTur