Pontalina

Pontalina is a small city and municipality in south-central Goiás state, Brazil.

Geography

Pontalina is 125 kilometers from the state capital, Goiânia. It is connected by highways BR-153 and GO-19. Neighboring municipalities are Mairipotaba, Piracanjuba, Morrinhos, Aloândia, Joviânia, Vicentinópolis, Edéia, Edealina and Cezarina.

The climate is hot in summer and mild in winter, with an average annual temperature of 25 °C. The fauna is represented by jacaré, catitus, paca, deer, and capibara, whose preferred habitat is the Rio dos Bois. The flora has suffered with deforestation but there are still stands of jatobá, angico, aroeira, ipê and peroba rosa (Aspidosperma Spp-- see [http://tropicalhardwoods.com/htm/tropical_hardwoods/peroba_rosa.htm Peroba rosa] )

History

The origins of the town go back to the nineteenth century when cattle ranchers established themselves in the region. In 1938 what was once a district of Morrinhos became a city with the name Pontalina, derived from the proximity of the Rio dos Bois and the Meia Ponte

Political Information
*Mayor: Sebastião Vieira Rosa (January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2009)
*City council: 9 members

Demographic Information
*Population density: 11.36 inhab/km² (2007)
*Urban population: 13,216(2007)
*Rural population: 3,010 (2007)
*Population growth or loss: -0.29% for 2000/2007

Economic Information

The economy is based on agriculture, cattle raising, services, public administration, and small transformation industries. There is a large production of milk.
*Industrial units: 40 (2007)
*Commercial units: 191 (2007)
*Bank agencies: Banco do Brasil S.A. - BRADESCO S.A. - Banco Itaú S.A. (June 2007)
*Dairy: Parmalat Brasil S/A - Indústria de Alimentos (22/05/2006)
*Cattle herd: 119,656 head (2006)
*Dairy cows: 22,440 (2006)
*Main crops (2006): pumpkin, rice, banana, beans, watermelon, soybeans (16,850 hectares), tomatoes, wheat, and corn (1,150 hectares).

Education (2006)
*Schools: 15 with a total enrollment of 4,283. There were 732 students in middle and secondary schools.
*Higher education: none
*Adult literacy rate: 86.2% (2000) (national average was 86.4%)

Health (2007)
*Hospitals: 2
*Hospital beds: 52
*Ambulatory clinics: 9
*Infant mortality rate: 14.22 (2000) (national average was 33.0).

Quality of LifePontalina is one of the best places to live in the state. In the United Nations Human Development Index(2000)- Pontalina had a rating of 0.805, which ranked it in 8th place out of a total of 242 municipalities in the state of Goiás. Nationally it was ranked 467 out of 5,507 municipalities. For the complete list see [http://www.frigoletto.com.br/GeoEcon/idhgo.htm Frigoletto]

See also
*List of municipalities in Goiás

References
* [http://www.ibge.gov.br/ IBGE]
* [http://www.seplan.go.gov.br/ Seplan]
* [http://www.frigoletto.com.br/GeoEcon/idhgo.htm Frigoletto]
* [http://www.citybrazil.com.br/ City Brazil]
* [http://www.seplan.go.gov.br/sepin/pub/anuario/2005/transporte/tab01_transporte.htm Sepin]