Pernambuco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids

State of Pernambuco

Flag	Coat of arms

Location of State of Pernambuco in Brazil

Country

Brazil

Capital and Largest City

Recife

Area

• Total

98,311.616 km² (37,958.327 sq mi)

Area rank

19th

Population

(2012)

• Total

8,931,028

• Rank

7th

• Density

90.844077/km² (235.285079/sq mi)

• Density rank

6th

Demonym(s)

Pernambucano

GDP

• Year

2007 estimate

• Total

R$ 32.255.687 (10th)

• Per capita

R$ 4.337 (21st)

HDI

• Year

2005

• Category

0.718 – Low (23rd)

Time zone

UTC-3 (BRT)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-2 (BRST)

Postal Code

50000-000 to 56990-000

ISO 3166 code

BR-PE

Website

pe.gov.br

Pernambuco is a state in Brazil. Its capital city is Recife. About 8 million people live in Pernambuco. Around 1.5 million of them live in Recife.

The state's economy mainly relies on agriculture. Its main exports are sugar cane and manioc. Pernambuco has a mostly tropical climate.

Exploring Pernambuco's Geography
Festivals and Celebrations
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Pernambuco's Geography

The beautiful Fernando de Noronha Islands

Pernambuco has three main land areas. There is a narrow coast near the ocean. Then, there is a high plateau further inland. In between these two, there are slopes and terraces.

The land is shaped by old plateaus that have worn down. This has left steep cliffs and flat-topped mountains. These mountains are called chapadas. Some chapadas form borders with other states. These include the Serra dos Irmãos with Piauí and the Serra do Araripe with Ceará.

Coastal and Middle Zones

A view of Old Recife

The coastal area is very fertile. It used to be covered by thick forests. These were part of the Atlantic Forest of eastern Brazil. Now, this area has many sugar cane farms. The climate here is hot and humid. Ocean winds help to cool it down a bit.

The middle area is called the agreste region. It has a drier climate. The plants here are lighter. Many trees lose their leaves during the dry season.

The amazing Vale do Catimbau National Park, Brazil's second largest archaeological site

Inland and Island Areas

The inland region is called the sertão. It is high, rocky, and dry. This area often suffers from long dry periods. The climate has hot days and cool nights. There are two clear seasons: a rainy season from March to June, and a dry season for the rest of the year. The sertão is mostly covered by thorny scrub plants called caatinga. The São Francisco River is the main water source here.

Relaxing at Boa Viagem Beach

The climate is milder in some parts of the countryside. This is because of the Borborema Plateau. Some towns are over 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level. Temperatures there can drop to 10 °C (50 °F) in winter. In some cities like Triunfo, it can even reach 5 °C (41 °F).

The island of Fernando de Noronha is also part of Pernambuco. It is in the Atlantic Ocean, about 535 km (332 miles) northeast of Recife. It joined Pernambuco in 1988.

Pernambuco's Rivers

Pernambuco has many rivers. Some small streams flow south to the São Francisco River. These include the Moxotó and Pajeú. They are often dry for much of the year.

The largest rivers in the east flow to the Atlantic Ocean. The Goiana River drains a rich farming area in the northeast. The Capibaribe River flows about 300 miles (480 km) to the Atlantic at Recife. Other important rivers are the Ipojuca River and the Uná.

Festivals and Celebrations

Carnival Fun

The vibrant city of Recife

The four days before Lent are carnival time in Brazil. Everyone, rich or poor, celebrates in the streets. Pernambuco has huge Carnival parties. They feature frevo, a special music style from Pernambuco. Another famous Carnival music is maracatu.

The cities of Recife and Olinda have very lively Carnival celebrations. The biggest Carnival parade in Brazil is Galo da Madrugada. It happens in downtown Recife on Carnival Saturday. Another famous event is the Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos (Night of the Silent Drums).

Recife's Carnival is known across the country. It brings in thousands of people every year. The party starts a week before the official date. Music groups play in the Boa Viagem district.

On Friday, people dance to frevo, maracatu, and other music styles. There are many stages around the city with local and national artists.

Giant Dolls at the Olinda Carnival

A big highlight is Saturday. Over one million people follow the Galo da Madrugada group. From Sunday to Monday, the Night of the Silent Drums takes place. Here, Maracatus groups honor enslaved people who died.

Saint John's Day Festivities

Festa Junina (Saint John's Day) was brought to Brazil by the Portuguese. For them, Saint John's Day on June 24 is a very old and popular celebration. In Brazil, these parties happen during the tropical winter.

The celebrations usually start after June 12. They last until June 29, which is Saint Peter's Day. During these days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing. People dress up in peasant costumes. They enjoy special foods like canjica and pamonha.

Saint John's Day is celebrated all over Pernambuco. The biggest parties are in Caruaru. Festivals in Gravatá and Carpina are also very popular.

Winter Festival Fun

In the hilly areas of the state's interior, temperatures can get cool in winter. They can reach 8 °C (46 °F). Every winter, tourists visit cities like Garanhuns, Gravatá, and Triunfo.

The city of Garanhuns holds an annual Winter Festival in July. It features concerts, dances, and local food. The cooler weather is also a big draw for visitors.

Images for kids

Boa Viagem Beach
Olinda - UNESCO World Heritage Site
Dutch invasions in Brazil
John Maurice, Prince of Nassau-Siegen
Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue in Mauritsstad (Recife), the first synagogue in the Americas
Graf Zeppelin over Recife in the 1930s
Atlântico Sul Shipyard, the biggest shipyard in the Southern Hemisphere, located in Industrial Port Complex of Suape.
Petrolina. The largest Brazilian producer of grapes, mangoes, and guavas, also known for goat and sheep ranching
School of Law at the Federal University of Pernambuco.
Local health care training by the Olinda local administration
Carnival in Recife
Giant Dolls - Olinda Carnival
Guararapes International Airport, in Recife
Recife Port
Praia Sancho, beyond this beach, a reserve for some 600 spinner dolphins is established in Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Pernambuco.
Petrolina Cathedral
City of Tamandaré, in the coast of Pernambuco
The neighborhood of Boa Viagem, in Recife
Mascarenhas de Morais Avenue, Recife
City of Triunfo, mountainous (serrano) tourism
City of Garanhuns
Arena Pernambuco
A Pernambuco landscape by an unknown naïve artist
Palácio do Campo das Princesas in Recife, headquarters for the state Governor
Palácio Joaquim Nabuco, meeting place of the Legislative Assembly of Pernambuco, in Recife
Tribunal de Justiça de Pernambuco ('Court of Justice of Pernambuco'), in Recife
Marco Zero in Recife
Quartel do Derby in Recife, headquarters of the Military Police of Pernambuco
Central Recife and the Boa Vista neighborhood
São Bento Monastery in Olinda, the colonial state capital
Convent of São Francisco, Olinda
Boa Viagem neighborhood, Recife
Caruaru at night, in the Agreste
Agreste landscape near João Alfredo
The São Francisco river, in Petrolina, in the Sertão
Sertão landscape near Araripina
Saltinho Biological Reserve, in the coastal forest
Porto de Galinhas beach, Ipojuca
Bolo de Rolo, a Pernambucan specialty