Recife

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Recife
Aurora street, in Boa Vista ward, and River Capibaribe
Aurora street, in Boa Vista ward, and River Capibaribe
Flag of Recife
Flag
Official seal of Recife
Seal
Nickname: Veneza Brasileira (Brazilian Venice) and Mauricéia/Mauritzstad (after the Dutch colonization)
Motto: luceat omnibus"
Latin: "That it may shine on all" (Matthew 5:15)
Location in Brazil
Location in Brazil
Country Flag of Brazil Brazil
Region Northeast
State Pernambuco
Founded March 12, 1537
Incorporated (as village) 1709
Incorporated (as city) 1823
Government
 - Mayor João Paulo Lima e Silva (PT)
Area
 - City 218 km² (84.17 sq mi)
 - Metro 2,768 km² (1,068.7 sq mi)
Elevation 10 m (33 ft)
Population (2001)
 - City 1.515.052
 - Density 6,885.3/km² (34,833/sq mi)
 - Metro 3.646.204
 - Metro Density 2,601/km² (6,667.8/sq mi)
Time zone UTC-3 (UTC-3)
HDI (2000) 0.797 – medium
Website: Recife, Pernambuco

Recife (pronunciation  IPA: [heˈsifi]) is the largest city in the Northeastern Region of Brazil, the largest metropolitan area and one of the most important cultural, economic, political and science-minded cities in this region. It is the fifth largest metropolitan area in Brazil and the capital of Pernambuco. The population was 1,515,052 in 2005, and 3,646,204 in the wider metropolitan area. Recife is located where the Beberibe River meets the Capibaribe River to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major port on the Atlantic Ocean and is served by Guararapes International Airport.

The name means "reef" in Portuguese.

Surrounded by rivers and crossed by bridges, Recife is full of islands and mangroves that magnify its geography. It is known as the Brazilian Venice, thanks to its fluvial resemblance with the European city, and is considered one of Brazil's cultural capitals.

Recife is the birthplace of poets and writers Manuel Bandeira, João Cabral de Melo Neto, Gilberto Freyre, Paulo Freire, Nelson Rodrigues, Carlos Pena Filho, Saulo Moreira and Sebastião Uchoa Leite; and of such composers as Chico Science, Lenine, Fred Zero Quatro, Otto, Pochyua Andrade, Don Tronxo, Valença Brothers, Antônio Nóbrega, Naná Vasconcelos, Jorge du Peixe, Paulo Diniz, Fernando Lobo and Antônio Maria. Canadian ice hockey player Robyn Regehr and footballers Vavá, Rivaldo and Juninho Pernambucano were also born in Recife.

The Guararapes International Airport connects Recife with Brazilian cities and also operates international flights.

The city is home to the Federal University of Pernambuco.

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Climate

Climate chart for Recife
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
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temperatures in °Cprecipitation totals in mm
source: MSN Weather

Recife has a typical tropical climate, with warm to hot temperatures and high relative humidity all throughout the year. However, these conditions are relieved by a near absence of extreme temperatures and pleasant trade winds blowing from the ocean. January is the warmest month, with mean temperatures ranging from 32°C (90°F) to 26°C (79°F), with sun; July experiences the coolest temperatures, with mean temperatures ranging from 29°C (84°F) to 23°C (73°F), with rain.

[edit] Vegetation

Recife has a tropical forest. Rainforests are characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 2,000 mm (79 in) and 1,700 mm (70 in). The soil can be poor because high rainfall tends to leach out soluble nutrients. There are several common characteristics of tropical rainforest trees. Tropical rainforest species frequently possess one or more attributes not commonly seen in trees of higher latitudes or trees in drier conditions on the same latitude.

[edit] History

Santo Antonio Church.
Santo Antonio Church.
"Campo das Princesas" Pernambuco Government Palace.
"Campo das Princesas" Pernambuco Government Palace.
Paço Alfândega in Recife.
Paço Alfândega in Recife.
Recife in the morning.
Recife in the morning.

The area around Recife was one of the first in Brazil to be settled by the Portuguese Crown. In 1534, John III of Portugal divided Brazil into Hereditary Captaincies (Capitanias Hereditárias, in Portuguese); the Portuguese realized that they had no human or financial resources to invest in such a large and distant colony, and decided to assign this task to private entrepreneurs, called Donatários (this system had already been successful in the settlement of the Portuguese colonies in Africa).

Because of several problems (the most obvious being the lack of support from the Portuguese metropolis), most Captaincies failed. One of the few to prosper was the Captaincy of Pernambuco, which was assigned to Duarte Coelho Pereira (the man who founded Olinda and became famous for expressing his enchantment with the beauty of the place, giving the name to the city).

Pernambuco prospered from the sugarcane industry (beet sugar was not industrially produced in Europe until the beginning of the 19th century). At the time, in Europe, sugarcane plantations could be grown only in Andalusia and the Algarve; in the 1420s, sugarcane was carried to the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Azores; the sugar from Brazil was very appreciated in Europe. Duarte Coelho found in Pernambuco plenty of fertile land and an excellent climate for the cultivation of cane; all he needed was labor to work in the crops and to keep the "engenhos" (rustic wooden machinery) moving.

At first, the Portuguese tried to use the indigenous peoples of Brazil, but they soon realized that the indigenous culture was not compatible with the work in the engenhos. The solution was to import black slaves from Africa; from the 16th to the 19th century, Pernambuco received many slaves, making it one of the Brazilian States where black culture has the most visible traces (in dance, music, culinary, etc).

Alone, this mixture of Portuguese, Indians and black slaves would be enough to make Recife one of the most culturally diverse cities in Brazil. The Dutch added to the mix. From 1580 to 1640, the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal were unified under the rule of the former. Spain was engaged in a war against the Netherlands, and determined that the Dutch, who were the main distributors of Brazilian sugar in Europe, would be prohibited from coming to Brazil.

The Dutch decided to invade several sugar producing cities in Brazil, including Salvador and Natal. From 1630 to 1654, they took control of Recife and Olinda. During this period, Recife became one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. The first Jewish community and the first synagogue in the Americas was founded in the city.[1]

The inhabitants fought on their own to expel the Dutch, being helped by the involvement of the Dutch in the First Anglo-Dutch War. This was known as the Insurreição Pernambucana (Pernambucan Insurrection). Most of the Jews fled to Amsterdam; others fled to North America, starting the first Jewish community of New Amsterdam (now known as New York City).

During the 18th century, riots spread throughout the city, in which the rich farmers of Olinda and the traders from Recife clashed. Recife had a clear advantage in relation to Olinda: Olinda has no harbour, while Recife's Harbor is one of the largest on the Atlantic. Recife's victory asserted the supremacy of its bourgeoisie over the decadent sugar aristocrats of Olinda. This was a decisive factor for Recife's growth. Recife is now a large city whereas Olinda is a small historical town.

[edit] Demographics

The famous Capibaribe River, bridges, downtown and Boa Viagem district at back.
The famous Capibaribe River, bridges, downtown and Boa Viagem district at back.

According to the IBGE of 2007, there were 3,655,000 people residing in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. The population density was 6,422 inh./km². The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 1,308,490 million White people (35.8%), 2,072,385 million Pardo people (56.7%), 255 thousand Black people (7.0%), 21 thousand Asian or Amerindian people (0.6%).[2]

[edit] Curiosity

Vehicles: 367,879 (March/2007); Daily Newspapers: 4 (May/2007); Foundation day: 03/12/1537. Recife is know as "Brazilian Venice" because of its numerous bridges and waterways.

Source: IBGE.

[edit] Health

[edit] Medical pool

The University Hospital of Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife.
The University Hospital of Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife.

The Metropolitan area of Recife has the 2nd largest medical pool of Brazil, after São Paulo. Together they make up 417 hospitals and clinics. The medical pool offers a total of 8,2 thousand beds and, according to the Union of the Hospitals of Pernambuco, recorded in 2000 an invoicing of 220 millions of real. It is thanks to the pool that Pernambuco has access to more computerized tomografia devices than countries like Canada or France.[3] A large portion of the modern hospitals which are included in the pool are located between the neighbourhoods of Derby and of the Ilha de Leite. The Royal Português Hospital of Beneficência in Pernambuco, or "Hospital Português" (Portuguese Hospital) for short, is one of the most renowned hospitals in the country. Many people from neighbouring states go to Recife for treatment, as it has the largest and best medical facilities in the North-Northeast of Brazil.[4]

Recife has three universities of medicine, 2 public, Federal University of Pernambuco and University of Pernambuco; and 1 private, Escola Pernambucana de Medicina FBV/IMIP (Medical School of Pernambuco FBV/IMIP).[5]

[edit] Tourism and recreation

Tamandaré Beach.
Tamandaré Beach.

Among Recife's main tourist attractions are:

  • Churches and historical monuments, including 17th and 18th Century constructions from Portuguese and Dutch colonizers
  • Francisco Brennand's atelier of ceramic art
  • Ricardo Brennand Institute: cultural institute with museum, pinacotec and library.
  • Ancient Recife buildings: Forte Orange (which is really located in Itamaracá island, some 40 km from Recife)
  • Boa Viagem Beach (the city's most important beach)
  • Olinda (neighbor city) - a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Casa da Cultura: souvenir shops in an ancient prison building
  • The Carnival at Recife Antigo

There are many beaches close to Recife, such as:

  • Porto de Galinhas, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (60 km to the south) --> The most popular nearby tourist destination. Attracts tourists from around the world and boasts a thriving tourism industry. High end hotels and restaurants compete with more popular options and lie within the budget of most travelers.
  • Maracaípe, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (65 km to the south)
  • Serrambi, Ipojuca, Pernambuco (70 km to the south)
  • Tamandaré, Barreiros, Pernambuco (110 km to the south)
  • Itamaracá, Pernambuco (40 km to the north)

[edit] Economy

Recife in rainy weather.
Recife in rainy weather.

According to facts of the IPEA of the year of 1996, the PIB was estimated in real 8,25 billion, being that had not record of activities based in the agriculture and in the livestock farming (0,0%). The industry represented 16,5% and the sector of the commerce and service 83,4%. In 2002, in agreement estimates of the IBGE, the PIB to have evolved for real 11,410 billion.

[edit] Information technology industry

Recife has a modern information techonoly area (called "Digital Port" ("Porto Digital")), inaugurated in 2000, attracting investments. Advantage are of R$100.000.000 reais every year. It produces computer Chips and Programs, which are exported to Japan, China and other countries. In six years of action, the Porto Digital was consolidated with the investments carried out in the improvement of the trials of development of sotfware and with the coming companies set of ten installation of other regions of the city, of other states and of other countries.[6]

[edit] Alcohol in Pernambuco State (clean air)

Pernambuco State has the 5th-highest sugarcane Brazilian production. Brazil is by far the largest producer of alcohol fuel in the world, typically fermenting ethanol from sugarcane and sugar beets. The country produces a total of 18 billion liters annually, of which 3.5 billion are exported, 2 billion of them to the US. Alcohol cars debuted in the Brazilian market in 1978 and became quite popular because of heavy subsidy, but in the 80's prices rose and gasoline regained the leading market share. But from 2004 on, alcohol is rapidly rising its market share once again because of new technologies involving hybrid fuel car engines called "Flex" by all major car manufacturers (Volkswagen, General Motors, Ford, Peugeot, Honda, Citroën, Fiat, etc.). "Flex" engines work with gasoline, alcohol or any mixture of both fuels. As of February 2007, approx. 80% of new vehicles sold in Brazil are hybrid fuel. Because of the Brazilian leading production and technology, many countries became very interested in importing alcohol fuel and adopting the "Flex" vehicle concept. In March 7th of 2007, US president George W. Bush visited the city of São Paulo to sign agreements with Brazilian president Lula on importing alcohol and its technology as an alternative fuel.

The GDP for the city was R$ 16,664,468,000 (2005).[7]

The per capita income for the city was R$ 11,102 (2005).[8]

[edit] Education

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum. There are also international schools, such as the American School of Recife

[edit] Colleges and Universities

The Law School of Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife.
The Law School of Federal University of Pernambuco in Recife.

Recife is home to several higher education institutions, notably several public-owned universities:

  • Federal University of Pernambuco; UFPE (federal, free);
  • Universidade Católica de Pernambuco; UNICAP (private, ran by the Catholic Church, paid);
  • University of Pernambuco; UPE (state-owned, free);
  • Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco; UFRPE (federal, oriented to agriculture, free);
  • Faculdade Marista do Recife — FMR (private, ran by the Marist congregation, paid)
  • Faculdade Maurício de Nassau; FMN (private, paid)
  • Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Pernambuco — CEFET-PE (technological college, federal, free);
  • Faculdade de Tecnologia de Pernambuco; FATEC-PE (technological college, state-owned, free).
  • and many others.

[edit] Culture

Maracatu dancers.
Maracatu dancers.

Recife is one of the most cultural cites in Brazil,Cradle of Brazilian culture, and is the home of several artists, musicians and writers. It is also home to the frevo, a regional dance and music, typical in the carnival, and the Mangue Beat, a type of Brazilian rock with mixture of Maracatu, Ciranda, Rap and other music styles. During carnival, downtown Recife holds one of the most authentic and democratic celebrations: every year more than one million people opens the festivities of the Brazilian Carnival at the Galo da Madrugada.

[edit] Cinema

Multiplex Tacaruna, Multiplex Recife, Multiplex Boa Vista, Cine Rosa e Silva, CineBox Guararapes, Cinema do Parque.

[edit] Theatre

Teatro Apolo, Teatro Hermilo Borba Filho, Teatro do Parque, Teatro Santa Izabel.

[edit] Museum

Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue

Kahal Zur Israel is the name of a synagogue in Recife. Which is the oldest in the Americas, dating back to the 17th Century. After being closed for many years it is now re-opened to Jews and their culture.

The Museum of Pernambuco State - Museu do Estado de Pernambuco - Housed in a 19th century mansion in Recife, capital of Pernambuco state, the “Museu do Estado de Pernambuco - MEPE” dates back to 1929. From Masters who portrayed the Colonial period, as well as the Dutch invasion (1630) to 20th and 21st century, the Museum is comprised by over 12 thousand art pieces which invites the visitor to a journey into the local history. Periodically the museum hosts the “Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco” when emerging artists are selected to represent the new run of local professionals who will help to maintain and shape the new profile of the local art scenery.

Northeastern Man Museum The broad collection describes Pernambuco's culture starting from three main themes: the sugar-cane production cycle, the northeastern man’s life style and the folkloric and religious manifestations.

Ricardo Brennand Institute

Set up in a building that reproduces a medieval style, it has a collection of pieces from the Dutch domination period in Recife, as well as daggers and armors.

Francisco Brennand Ceramic Shop Francisco Brennand, one of the most important names in contemporary sculptures in Brazil, displays his ceramic works in enormous open sheds, between monuments and gardens. It is set in an old brick factory that belonged to the sculptor’s family.

Gilberto Freyre Foundation The farm house, from the 18th century, was Gilberto Freyre’s old residence. Artworks, arts and crafts, book collections and objects that belonged to the Pernambuco writer and sociologist are displayed there.

Recife City Museum Set up in a room in Cinco Pontas Fort, it shows pictures, reproductions of old paintings and objects that describe Recife since the period of Dutch rule.

[edit] Festa Junina (Saint John Festival)

Fireworks in Saint John Festival.
Fireworks in Saint John Festival.

Festa Junina was introduced to Northeastern Brazil by the Portuguese for whom St John's day (also celebrated as Midsummer Day in several European countries), on the 24th of June, is one of the oldest and most popular celebrations of the year. Differently, of course, from what happens on the European Midsummer Day, the festivities in Brazil do not take place during the summer solstice but during the tropical winter solstice. The festivities traditionally begin after the 12th of June, on the eve of St Anthony's day, and last until the 29th, which is Saint Peter's day. During these fifteen days, there are bonfires, fireworks, and folk dancing in the streets. Once exclusively a rural festivity, today, in Brazil, it is largely a city festival during which people joyfully and theatrically mimic peasant stereotypes and clichés in a spirit of joke and good time. Typical refreshments and dishes are served. It should be noted that, like during Carnival, these festivities involve costumes-wearing (in this case, peasant costumes), dancing, heavy drinking, and visual spectacles (fireworks display and folk dancing). Like what happens on Midsummer and St John's Day in Europe, bonfires are a central part of these festivities in Brazil.

[edit] Carnaval/Carnival

2007 Carnival at Pátio de São Pedro square in Recife.
2007 Carnival at Pátio de São Pedro square in Recife.
A typical carnival 'bloco' of Pernambuco.
A typical carnival 'bloco' of Pernambuco.

The four-day period before Lent leading up to Ash Wednesday is carnival time in Brazil. Rich and poor alike forget their cares as they party in the streets. Pernambuco has large Carnival celebrations, including the Frevo, typical Pernambuco music. Another famous carnaval music style from Pernambuco is Maracatu. The cities of Recife and Olinda hold the most authentic and democratic carnaval celebrations in Brazil. The largest carnaval in all of Brazil is Galo da Madrugada, which takes place in downtown Recife in the Saturday of carnaval. Another famous event is the "Noite dos Tambores Silenciosos". Carnaval Recife’s joyous Carnaval is nationally known and admired, attracting thousands of people every year. The party starts a week before the official date, with electric trios “shaking” the Boa Viagem district. On Friday, people take to the streets to enjoy themselves to the sound of frevo and to dance with maracatu, ciranda, caboclinhos, afoxé, reggae and manguebeat (cultural movement created in Recife during the 90s) groups. There are still many other entertainment poles spread out around the city, featuring local and national artists. One of the highlights is Saturday when more than one million people follow the Galo da Madrugada group. From Sunday to Monday, there is the Night of the Silent Drums, on the Pátio do Terço, where Maracatus honor slaves that died in prisons.

[edit] Infrastructure

[edit] International Airport

Guararapes International Airport. The new Recife/Guararapes – Gilberto Freyre International Airport has been open since July 2004 and has 52 thousand square meters of area. The largest airport in the North and Northeast regions, Guararapes had its capacity expanded from 1.5 million to 5 million passengers a year. There are currently 64 check-in counters, versus the former terminal’s 24. The shopping and leisure area was also totally remodeled, within the “Aeroshopping” concept, which transforms an airport into a center for business, comfort and high-quality products and services. The commercial spaces will be occupied in steps and the final total will be 142 shops. Since 2000, Recife has had the longest runway in the Northeast, at 3,305 meters. Its extension permits operations with jumbo jets, such as the Boeing 747-400, which can carry 290 passengers and 62 tons of cargo, with endurance to fly nonstop to anywhere in South and Central America, Africa and parts of Europe, the United States and Canada. Current domestic destinations include most major cities in Brazil, and there are also international flights to Paris, France, Lisbon, Portugal and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

[edit] Port

Suape Port. Suape serves ships 365 days a year without any restrictions in regards to tide schedules. To assist in the docking operation of the ships, the port offers a monitoring system and laser ship docking system that enables effective, secure control and upholds the same technical standards as the most important ports across the globe. The port moves over 5 million tons of cargo a year. The liquid granary (petroleum by-products, chemical products, alcohols, vegetable oils, etc.) constitutes more than 80% of the movement. The port can serve ships of up to 170,000 tpb and operational draft of 14.50m. With 27km² of backport, the internal and external ports offer the necessary conditions for serving large ships. The access canal has 5,000m of extension, 300m in width and 16.5m in length.

Metropolitan Metro of Recife.
Metropolitan Metro of Recife.
Metropolitan Metro of Recife.
Metropolitan Metro of Recife.

[edit] Metro

In 2003, the Metro was extended and became the second biggest in Brazil, after São Paulo.[9]

This system also integrates with several bus lines connected to the bus/metro[10] integration terminals.

[edit] Highways

[edit] Distances

[edit] Neighborhoods

João Cabral de Melo Neto statue, an important writer of Recife. Behind, Santa Isabel Theatre.
João Cabral de Melo Neto statue, an important writer of Recife. Behind, Santa Isabel Theatre.
Santa Isabel Theatre, in Recife.
Santa Isabel Theatre, in Recife.
Recife Antigo, "Old Recife". Behind, Boa Viagem.
Recife Antigo, "Old Recife". Behind, Boa Viagem.
Boa Viagem Beach, Piedade on the far end.
Boa Viagem Beach, Piedade on the far end.
Baobab in front of Government Palace, "Praça da República", in Santo Antônio ward.
Baobab in front of Government Palace, "Praça da República", in Santo Antônio ward.
São Pedro dos Clérigos Cathedral, in Recife.
São Pedro dos Clérigos Cathedral, in Recife.
Recife Sunset.
Recife Sunset.
Cais de Santa Rita viewed from the Casa de Banhos Restaurant, in Recife.
Cais de Santa Rita viewed from the Casa de Banhos Restaurant, in Recife.
Marco Zero, in Recife.
Marco Zero, in Recife.
The Nucleus of Infotechnology of Federal University of Pernambuco.
The Nucleus of Infotechnology of Federal University of Pernambuco.
Boa Viagem Beach, Recife.
Boa Viagem Beach, Recife.

A

  • Aflitos
  • Afogados
  • Água Fria
  • Alto do Mandu
  • Alto José Bonifácio
  • Alto José do Pinho
  • Alto Santa Terezinha
  • Apipucos
  • Areias
  • Arruda

B

  • Barro
  • Beberibe
  • Boa Viagem
  • Boa Vista
  • Bomba do Hemetério
  • Bongi
  • Brasília Teimosa
  • Brejo da Guabiraba
  • Brejo de Beberibe

C

  • Cabanga
  • Caçote
  • Cajueiro
  • Campina do Barreto
  • Campo Grande
  • Casa Amarela
  • Casa Forte
  • Caxangá
  • Cidade Universitária
  • Coelhos
  • Coqueiral
  • Cordeiro
  • Córrego do Jenipapo
  • Curado

D

  • Derby
  • Dois Irmãos
  • Dois Unidos

E

  • Encruzilhada
  • Engenho do Meio
  • Espinheiro
  • Estância

F

  • Fundão

G

  • Graças
  • Guabiraba

H

  • Hipódromo

I

  • Ibura
  • Ibura de Cima
  • Ilha do Leite
  • Ilha do Retiro
  • Ilha Joana Bezerra
  • Imbiribeira
  • Vila do Ipsep
  • Iputinga

J

  • Jaqueira
  • Jardim São Paulo
  • Jiquiá
  • Jordão
  • Jordão Baixo

L

  • Linha do Tiro

M

  • Macaxeira
  • Madalena
  • Mangabeira
  • Mangueira
  • Monteiro
  • Morro da Conceição
  • Mustardinha

N

  • Nova Descoberta

P

  • Passarinho
  • Paissandu
  • Parnamirim
  • Pau Ferro
  • Peixinhos
  • Pina
  • Poço
  • Ponto de Parada
  • Porto da Madeira
  • Prado

R

S

  • San Martin
  • Sancho
  • Santana
  • Santo Amaro
  • Santo Antônio
  • São José
  • Sítio dos Pintos
  • Soledade

T

  • Tamarineira
  • Tejipió
  • Torre
  • Torreão
  • Torrões
  • Totó

V

  • Várzea
  • Vasco da Gama

Z

  • Zumbi

[edit] Sports

Santa Cruz Stadium in Recife.
Santa Cruz Stadium in Recife.

Football in Pernambuco began in 1902, when English and Dutch sailors landed in Recife and played a game of football on the beach. The new game aroused the interest of the people of Pernambuco, and they soon started playing. Recife provides visitors and residents with various sporting activities. There are several soccer clubs based in Recife, such as Sport (1987 national soccer champion and 36 times state champion), Santa Cruz FC (24 times state champion), and Náutico (21 times state champion).

Recife is one of the 18 remaining candidates to host games of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, for which Brazil is the host nation.

[edit] Crime

One of the main problems of Recife is the violence.
One of the main problems of Recife is the violence.

Recife's reputation for safety is not one of the best. Its metropolitan area has a rate of 69,4 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, which is bigger than in much larger Brazilian cities, such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and more than twice the national average.[11]

As of the Ipea and Datasus of 2003, to 100,000 inhabitants:

  • 102,3 Black people died in the city;
  • 15,5 White people died in the city.

According to Brazil's Constitution of 1988, racism is an unbailable crime and must be met with imprisonment. This is taken very seriously.

[edit] Sex Tourism

There has been a growing number of foreign tourists who come to Brazil looking for sex, mostly Germans, Italians and other Europeans.[12] These turists come to Recife and other cities of Northeast Brazil not for the culture and beaches, but for sex, often with minors. Brazil has a supply of young girls desperate to escape poverty, and the demand from foreign men is rising all the time. In Recife, where a growing population of children sleep on park benches or fall drugged or drunk on the curbs outside bars catering to a brisk trade in sex tourism, many girls who live on the streets have begun slashing themselves with razor blades, often on their forearms. [13]Recife's secretary for tourism, Romeo Batista, says the long-term antidote to the sex trade lies in better social policies so that Brazilian girls have less need for foreign men and money.

Several countries worldwide have their own legislation that prosecutes torists in their homeland if they engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with children:

  • USA: Under the PROTECT Act of April 2003, it is a crime, prosecutable in the United States, for a U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country with a person under the age of 18, whether or not the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien intended to engage in such illicit sexual conduct prior to going abroad.[14]
  • United Kingdom: The Sexual Offences Act 2003 enables British citizens and residents who commit sexual offences against children overseas to be prosecuted in the UK.[15]

Complaints concerning foreigners who are suspected of committing child sex tourism offences should be directed to the nearst consulate or embassy.

[edit] Shark attacks

Boa Viagem Beach in Recife.
Boa Viagem Beach in Recife.

In recent years, the number of shark attacks on the beaches of Recife has dramatically increased. This was addressed on the National Geographic Channel series Hunter Hunted in the episode "Shark Invasion".

Surfing has recently been outlawed on the urban beaches (Pina, Boa Viagem, Piedade, Candeias) because of the risk the sport poses to its practitioners due to shark attacks.

Several beaches have messages alerting people of the danger of finding sharks, although this is a very rare as in most parts of Brazil.

[edit] Human Development

Recife on the far end.
Recife on the far end.

In 2000, Recife had neighborhoods with high human development index, identical or upper of the Scandinavia, but had neighborhoods with medium human development index, identical of the North Africa.[16]

Neighborhoods and localities champions:

  • Boa Viagem/Pina (0.964)
  • Graças/Aflitos/Derby/Espinheiro (0.953)

Neighborhoods and localities in last place:

  • Ilha Joana Bezerra/São José/Zeis Coque (0.632)

[edit] Sister cities

Recife's sister cities are:

[edit] References

  1. ^ (2006) Jewish community in Recife (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Jewish press. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  2. ^ (2007) Síntese de Indicadores Sociais 2007 (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: IBGE. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  3. ^ (2006) Medical pool of Recife (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Pernambuco de A/Z. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  4. ^ (2006) Medical pool Ranking (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: UOL. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  5. ^ (2006) Medical pool of Recife (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Pernambuco de A/Z. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  6. ^ (2006) Digital Port of Recife (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Porto Digital. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  7. ^ (2005) GDP (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: IBGE. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  8. ^ (2005) per capita income (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: IBGE. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  9. ^ (2006) Recife Metro (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Diário de Pernambuco. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  10. ^ (2006) Recife Metro (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: CBTU. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  11. ^ (2004) Violence in Recife (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: Diário de Pernambuco. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2007-07-18. 
  12. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4061325.stm
  13. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940CEFDD1039F932A15756C0A960958260&sec=&spon=
  14. ^ http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1467.html
  15. ^ http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1100182470588
  16. ^ (2000) HDI (PDF) (in Portuguese), Recife, Brazil: PNUD. ISBN 85-240-3919-1. Retrieved on 2008-01-09. 

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[edit] Official

[edit] Education

  • (Portuguese) UCSal - Catholic University of Pernambuco
  • (Portuguese) UFPE - Federal University of Pernambuco
  • (Portuguese) UPE - University of Pernambuco
  • (Portuguese) UFRPE - Rural Federal University of Pernambuco
  • (English) Escola Americana do Recife - (American School of Recife)

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