Caçapava do Sul

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Município de Caçapava do Sul
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motto = Caçapava não se entrega


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Brazil
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = South
subdivision_type2 = State
subdivision_name2 = Rio Grande do Sul
subdivision_type3 = Mesorregião
subdivision_name3 = Sudeste Rio-Grandense
subdivision_type4 = Microrregião
subdivision_name4 = Serras de Sudeste
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leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = José Erli Pereira de Vargas (PMDB)
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established_title = Founded
established_date = 25 October, 1831
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area_total_km2 = 3047.120
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population_as_of = 2006
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population_total = 34661
population_density_km2 = 11.4
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timezone = BRT
utc_offset = -3
timezone_DST = BRST
utc_offset_DST = -2
latd=30 |latm=30 |lats=44 |latNS=S
longd=53 |longm=29 |longs=27 |longEW=W
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elevation_m = 444
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blank_name = HDI
blank_info = 0.768 (medium) "UNDP/2000"
blank1_name = GDP
blank1_info = R$ 252,872,182.00 "IBGE/2003"
website = [http://www.prefeitura.cacapava.net/ Prefeitura de Caçapava do Sul]
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Caçapava do Sul is a Brazilian city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located on the banks of the Camaquã River. As of 2006 the city had a population of 34,461. It was the 2nd capital of the Piratini Republic from 1839 to 1840.

The economy depends primarily on the mining industry. Caçapava do Sul produces 80% of the calcareous rock mined in Rio Grande do Sul. For many years it was Brazil's major producer of copper and is still an important center of copper mining.

A major deposit of copper ore was discovered in the 1940s by the CBC (Companhia Brasileira do Cobre / Brazilian Copper Company), under the direction of Brazilian industrialist and famous playboy Francisco "Baby" Pignatari. The area, about 5 kilometers from Caçapava, came to be known as the Minas do Camaquã (Camaquã Mines). This large operation contributed enormously to the town's economy and is still the site of operating copper mines, by such companies as Majestic Diamonds & Metals.

The area is one of great natural beauty, with several interesting natural formations. Nearby lies Pedra do Segredo (Stone of the Secret), a famous natural outcropping of stone that attracts mountain climbers and tourists from all over the state and elsewhere.

Geography

The city is located at latitude 30º30'44"S and longitude 53º29'29"W, at an altitude of 444 meters (1,443 ft). It has a geographical area of 3,044.8 km².

Main tourist attractions

* Pedra do Segredo (Stone of the Secret)
* Dom Pedro II Fort
* Cascata do Salso (Salso Waterfall)
* Minas do Camaquã (Camaquã Mines)
* Casa de Borges de Medeiros (Borges of Medeiros' House)
* Casa dos Ministérios - Farrapos (House of the Ministers of Poverty, literally "Ministries of Tatters")
* Igreja Matriz Nossa Sra Assunção (Our Lady of Assumption Church and compound)
* Guaritas (considered the 7th natural wonder of Rio Grande do Sul)

Nearby Municipalities

*São Sepé
*Cachoeira do Sul
*Santana da Boa Vista
*Pinheiro Machado
*Bagé
*Lavras do Sul
*Vila Nova do Sul

References