Guía de Brasil
Goiás
Goiás state, also known as the "Heart of Brazil" due to its location in the centre of the country, is impressive for its biodiversity and the preservation of its historic heritage. With fertile land, abundant water, favourable climate and wide dominion over technology production, the state is notable in the agricultural sector, as a major exporter of grain and having one of the largest herds of cattle in the country. Much of the population are descendants of the indigenous people who originally inhabited the region, of the bandeirantes explorers who arrived to the region in the 18th century, in search of gold and precious stones, and of the slaves from Africa – in other words, the basic Brazilian mixture.
Goiás is also the state of Dante, athlete of the Brazilian National Volleyball Team. Born in Itumbiara, this athlete's profile includes achievements such as the gold medal at Athens 2004, and gold medal at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, as well as three World Championship titles.
In the state's cities, culture and local traditions are represented in architecture, cuisine, crafts and in its traditional popular festivals. Its capital, Goiânia, is the gateway to the Region of Warm Waters (Região das Águas Quentes), where the largest hotel park of the Midwest Region is located. The thermal water sources are concentrated mainly in the cities of Caldas Novas and Rio Quente – homes to the largest warm-water river in the world. The former state capital, the city of Goiás is characterised by its colonial architecture and is considered a Historical Heritage Of Humanity.
One of the state's main attractions is the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, considered a Natural Heritage of Humanity. The region — abundant with waterfalls, archaeological sites and rocks dated over a billion years— is known as the "cradle of waters": its walls sprout rivers which form the main river basins of South America. The site is notable for its ecotourism options, which include trails, hiking and biking, as well as other sport and leisure activities. Also in these highlands is the Cerrado, a biome that holds one of the largest biodiversities in the world.