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São Luís, Maranhão Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
São Luís, Maranhão facts for kids
| São Luís | |||
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| Municipality | |||
| The Municipality of São Luís do Maranhão |
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 Location of São Luís |
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| Country |  Brazil |
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| Region | Northeast | ||
| State |  Maranhão |
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| Founded | September 8, 1612 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Municipality | 827.141 km2 (319.360 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 4 m (12 ft) | ||
| Population (2018 est.) | |||
| • Municipality | 1,094,667 | ||
| • Density | 1,183.4/km2 (3,064.9/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 1,227,659 | ||
| Time zone | UTC-3 (UTC-3) | ||
| Postal Code | 65000-000 | ||
| Area code(s) | +55 98 | ||
| Website | São Luís, Maranhão | ||
São Luís is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Maranhão. The city is located on Upaon-açu Island (Big Island, in Tupi Language) or Ilha de São Luís (Saint Louis' Island), in the Baía de São Marcos (Saint Mark's Bay), an extension of the Atlantic Ocean which forms the estuary of Pindaré, Mearim, Itapecuru and other rivers. Its coordinates are 2.53° south, 44.30° west. São Luís has the second largest maritime extension within Brazilian states. Its maritime extension is 640 km (397 miles). The city proper has a population of some 1,094,667 people (2018 IBGE estimate). The metropolitan area totals 1,605,305, ranked as the 15th largest in Brazil.
São Luís, created originally as Saint-Louis-de-Maragnan, is the only Brazilian state capital founded by France (see France Équinoxiale) and it is one of the three Brazilian state capitals located on islands (the others are Vitória and Florianópolis).
The city has two major sea ports: Madeira Port and Itaqui Port, through which a substantial part of Brazil's iron ore, originating from the (pre)-Amazon region, is exported. The city's main industries are metallurgical with Alumar, and Vale. São Luís is home of the Federal University of Maranhão.
São Luís was the home town of famous Brazilian samba singer Alcione, Brazilian writers Aluísio Azevedo, Ferreira Gullar and Josué Montello, Belgian-naturalised soccer player Luís Oliveira, and the musician João do Vale, a Música popular brasileira (MPB) singer.
Images for kids
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View of São Luís, c. 1665
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Colares Moreira Avenue.
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São Luís is the most important educational centre of the state.
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Theater Artur Azevedo in São Luís.
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A bus in São Luís.
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Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport
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Castelão Stadium, the largest in the city.