Minas Gerais
The main producer of coffee and milk in Brazil, Minas Gerais is the second most industrialised state in the country, making it the pole of business and gastronomy. Its main tourist attraction is the heritage of architecture and colonial art which are preserved in the historical cities that thrived from gold panning during the 18th century; among them, Diamantina and Ouro Preto, which are listed as Historical Heritage of Humanity (Patrimônio Histórico da Humanidade).
Minas Gerais is beautiful due to its variety of hillsides, rivers, waterfalls, canyons and caves, and pleasant year-round climate, conducive to sports training and hiking. The Serra do Cipó houses several rare plant species and mammals such as foxes, maned wolves, giant anteaters, jaguars and ocelots. The most notable attractions include the Cachoeira Véu da Noiva waterfall, located in the Serra do Cipó, and the Cachoeira do Tabuleiro waterfall, the tallest in the state. The most notable in the south region of the state are its thermal springs.
The state capital, Belo Horizonte, is famous for its architecture - contemporary and eclectic - and for its large quantity of bars and museums. The city has hosted the BH Open, phases of the Wheelchair Tennis World Circuit since 2004, and hosted a match for the Davis Tennis Cup in 2006. São Sebastião do Paraíso will be the stage for the Men's Sub-18 Basketball Americas Cup in 2012.
Minas is the hometown of Pelé, the greatest athlete in Football history. The state is deeply rooted in Volleyball: the Minas Gerais residents (or "Miners") are the spiker João Paulo Tavares of the Brazilian National Team and silver medallist at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, middle-blocker Fabiana Claudino, who won the gold medal in Beijing, and the libero Serginho, gold medallist at the Athens 2004 Olympics, among others.
