Balsas, Maranhão

Infobox City
official_name = Balsas
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_name1 = Northeast
subdivision_name2 = Maranhão
leader_title = Francisco de Assis Milhomem Coelho
leader_name =
area_note =
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_km2 =
population_as_of = 2001
area= 13,141.64 km²
population_total = 60,613
population_density_km2 = 4.61
timezone = UTC-3
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = UTC-2
utc_offset_DST = -2
latitude =
longitude =
elevation_m = 247
elevation_ft = 765
website =
footnotes =|

:"For the Mexican river, see Balsas River. For the Ecuadorian canton, see Balsas, Ecuador.

Balsas is a city in the state of Maranhão, northeast Brazil. It is located in southern Maranhão, 800 km from the capital of the state, São Luís.

Geography

Balsas covers an area of 13,141.64 km², being the third-largest municipality in Maranhão. The medium elevation of the city is 247 meters (810 ft).

Demographics

According to 2001 census, Balsas has 60,613 inhabitants. 82.73% live in Urban areas. The infant mortality rate is 35.1 deaths /1,000 live births and life expectancy is 64.1 years.

The annual median growth of the population is 4.21%. Today in 2007 the population is over 78,000 inhabitants. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Balsas.

Climate

Balsas has a Savanna tropical climate. Temperature is hot from April through October. It rains from November through March.

Vegetation

Cerrado is the typical vegetation of the area. However, due to the advance of agricultural activities, the ecosystems is threatened.

Hydrography

There are many streams and rivers in the municipality, but none of them has the importance of Rio Balsas, which crosses the city.