São Paulo

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Industrial city and capital of São Paulo state, southeast Brazil, 72 km/45 mi northwest of its port Santos, and 400 km/249 mi southwest of Rio de Janeiro; population (2001 est) 9,785,600; metropolitan area (2001 est) 17,833,800. It is Latin America's second-largest city after Mexico City and is 900 m/3,000 ft above sea level and 2° south of the Tropic of Capricorn. São Paulo is also South America's leading industrial city, producing electronic equipment, steel, motor vehicles, chemicals, and packed meat. It is Brazil's chief financial centre as well as the centre of the country's coffee trade.

São Paulo was founded in 1554 by two Jesuit priests as a mission station on the banks of the River Tietê, and has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. It was originally named Sá Paulo dos Campos de Piratininga until 1681 when it became known as Sáo Paulo. The coffee boom in the late 1800s, combined with the arrival of large numbers of Europeans, contributed to its growth; until that time most of its buildings were made of mud and clay. São Paulo dominates the Brazilian economy, producing 50% of the nation's industrial output.

The emblem reflects the Vatican's importance as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The colours of the flag are based on the gold and silver of the papal keys. Effective date: 8 June 1929. >>