45 Facts About Cuiabá

1) Cuiabá is 177 meters over sea level. 

2) Cuiabá has an area of 3.538 km², with a humid tropical weather in summer (December to February) and dry weather in winter (July to August).

3) The maximum temperature on hottest days is around 113 ºF, the minimum varies between 53,6 and 57,2 °F.

4) Cuiabá is a very hot city. Its highest recorded temperature was 46.5 ° C on August 10, 2012.

5) But sometimes it can be cold! The lowest recorded temperature in Cuiabá was 1.2 ° C on 22 June 1933.

6) Cuiabá is the largest city in Mato Grosso.

7) The capital has no airport. The nearest airport is in the neighboring town, Várzea Grande.

8) Cuiabá has a population of 569.830 inhabitants, according to the results of the 2010 IBGE Census.

9) The ‘Cuiabá’ name comes from a native Brazilian word.

10) The city is surrounded by three major biomes: the Amazon, the Cerrado and the Pantanal.

11) The city is home to important educational centers such as IFMT (The Federal Institute of Education of Mato Grosso) and UFMT (the Federal University of Mato Grosso) and UNEMAT (The State University of Mato Grosso).

12) It is known as the "Green City" because because in the past there were a lot of trees planted in backyards of the Cuiabana houses.

13) Historic downtown of Cuiabá is a historic place and it was declared a monument by Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional (IPHAN). It was founded in 1719, it is called “calçadão”. 

14) The Capela de São Benedito was built in 1764 by slaves. It is a traditional place for the Festa de São Benedito, a beautiful traditional religious festival, which always happens in the first week of July.

15) Zé Bolo Flô Park has green areas with vegetation and typical flora of the cerrado. Many people walk in this park because it has a walking path and is a very nice place.

16) The Zoo is located at the Federal University of Mato Grosso. It has typical animals from Mato Grosso and the Pantanal. 

17) Cuiabá has many attractions because it is located in a region of several natural landscapes, e.g. Chapada dos Guimarães and the Pantanal, and for being a very old city with an important historical heritage. 

18) The architecture of the urban area of Cuiabá, as of others historical cities in Brazil, is typically colonial, being recently changed and adapted to other more contemporary styles . 

19) Siriri and cururu are typical dances at religious festivals.

20) Maria Isabel and farofa de banana are some of the typical dishes from Cuiabá.

21) ArcanjoBar, at Bairro Boa Esperança, is one of the UFMT students’ favourite place for a drink and a espetinho and a good chat.

22) The cinema of the Goiabeiras Shopping Center is the best because of its comfortable seats and variety of movies.

23) It is almost compulsory to visit the natural beauties of Nobres, as small town not far from Cuiabá, surrounded by amazing caves and crystal-clear lakes.

24) The full moon on the Mirante at Chapada dos Guimarães is an awesome sight. 

25) For those who like to meet and get different doctrines, Cuiabá has the Vale do Amanhecer, a doctrine founded by Tia Neiva.

26) The Sorveteria Nevaska has the best ice cream in town, with flavors of typical fruits of the cerrado. 

27) Most nightclubs here play ‘sertanejo’, a kind of ‘Brazilian contemporary country music’.

28) Before leaving Cuiabá, don’t forget to try the famous rice with pequi, a very traditional dish from the region.

29) The Church of Our Lady of Good Order, built in 1918, is a replica, to a lesser extent, of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. It is located in Conceição Hill, one of the highest views of the city, with a privileged location in the city center and high visibility.

30) The Mother Bonifacia Park was opened in December 2000 and is located on Miguel Sutil Avenue, in a area of 190 acres.

31) The Massairo Okamura Park is a state park located on Rubens de Mendonça Avenue. It was opened in April 8, 2004. 

32) The Horto Florestal is a public garden or park by the banks of the Coxipó River, near Av. Fernando Corrêa da Costa, with 37 acres.

33) The UFMT Park has trails and sports equipment. It is one of the most vital green areas to Cuiabá.

34) The Trevisan Balneario and Ecological Lagoon, located in the southern region of Cuiabá, on the edges of the Highway of Immigrants, is one of the most important centers of leisure in Cuiabá.

35) The Museum of the Water Tank, inaugurated on November 17, 2007, was built in the nineteenth century, and delivered water to the population for about 142 years. The building, which is now the museum, was the only water reservoir in Cuiabá at that time.

36) Dom Aquino’s House is currently a museum of pre history, which was opened on December 2006. At the museum, the fossils of the animals of the region are arranged chonologically, representing biological evolution through geological ages.

37) The building of the War Arsenal was built as a military establishment for repair and manufacture of weapons in 1818. The house was restored in 1983. Today it is called Sesc Arsenal and is one of the busiest cultural venues in Cuiabá, with great artistic and musical events.

38) The Republic Square is the center of Cuiabá. It is one of the oldest squares in the capital. It is surrounded by The Bom Jesus de Cuiabá Cathedral, the Palace of Education and the Historical Museum, and the old Post Office building.

39) The Cine Cuiabá Theatre was inaugurated on 23 May 1942. It has aart-deco architectural style and a capacity for 600 people. It is one of the most important venues for performing arts in Cuiabá.

40) Cuiabá is the limiting point of the River Plate Basin and the Amazon Basin.

41) Viola de cocho (musical instrument created in Mato Grosso) is considered intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

42) The Cuiabá River is a major tributary of the Paraguay River , which forms the basin of the River Plate.

43) The typical cuisine of Cuiabá is based on fish , especially the 'Pacu' and 'Pintado'.

44) A traditional dessert is 'furrundu', which is made from green papaya and molasses. 

45) Cuiabá is located in the geodesic center of South America. The coordinates of the geodesic center of South America were marked by the Rondon Commission in 1909.

By JULLIANY P. SILVA, LOANA L. OLIVEIRA, MARCOS REIS, SABRINA SONAI, e  SOLANGE WOLLENHAUPT (Língua Inglesa II)