Why Itabira
Itabira is a notable municipality and major urban center in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Situated within the mesoregion of the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area, this regional economic hub is home to over 113,000 residents. The municipality is widely recognized as the "Capital of Poetry" because it is the birthplace of the famous Brazilian writer Carlos Drummond de Andrade. It also forms part of the historical Circuit of the Gold and the Estrada Real routes.
The initial settlement was established in the early eighteenth century as Itabira do Mato Dentro, founded by bandeirantes searching for gold in the region. Politically separated from its parent jurisdiction on October 9, 1848, under Provincial Law Number 374, the municipality officially gained its emancipation. Over the centuries, its historical legacy has evolved from early gold exploration to a prominent industrial and cultural identity.
Geographically, Itabira lies approximately 110 kilometers from the state capital of Belo Horizonte and 845 kilometers from Brasília. Its terrain features significant elevation, reaching a peak altitude of 1,672 meters above sea level at the summit known as Alto da Mutuca. The city serves as a key access hub connecting travelers to several neighboring smaller municipalities, including Santa Maria de Itabira, Itambé do Mato Dentro, Jaboticatubas, and Nova Era.
A primary economic driver in Itabira is iron ore extraction, spearheaded by the Companhia Vale do Rio Doce. Established in 1942 under President Getúlio Vargas to harvest minerals in the Rio Doce valley, the enterprise has grown into one of the largest mining companies globally, generating a substantial portion of its iron ore output from local mines. Due to these extensive and continuous extraction activities, the urban area experiences air pollution.
Visitors entering the region can reach the area via Tancredo Neves International Airport, situated in nearby Belo Horizonte, which stands as the closest international air gateway. Beyond its industrial significance, Itabira retains cultural importance through its links to prominent figures, including international model Ana Beatriz Barros, several professional athletes, and actress Elke Maravilha, who spent a portion of her childhood there. Itabira maintains a formal sister-city relationship with the municipality of Itajubá.
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