Paraná is a state in southern Brazil. With its strong northern European heritage, its culture is probably unlike most foreigners' image of Brazil.

Regions

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Paraná is commonly divided into the following regions:

Campos Gerais: this land of fields is close to Curitiba. Curious rocky formations and canyons near Vila Velha.

Centro - this central region attracts rural tourism.

Costa Norte: the north "coast" borders the State of São Paulo. Water sports, fishing and leisure.

Costa Oeste: the west "coast" has the Iguaçu Falls and National Park, and the giant Itaipu power plant.

Curitiba - The metropolitan region contains the state's capital and its neighboring areas;

Litoral: the state's coast has several bays and mangroves, the mountains of Serra do Mar and its mata atlântica forests, as well as beaches and eco-tourism at Ilha do Mel

Vale do Iguaçu: bordering the State of Santa Catarina, water sports on lake Itaipu.

Cities

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Curitiba - the capital, known worldwide for its innovative urban planning.

Londrina

Maringá

Foz do Iguaçu

Ponta Grossa

Cascavel

Capitão Leonidas Marques

Other destinations

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Iguaçu Falls - the world-famous waterfall.

See

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Itineraries



Paraná is the capital city of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos, located on the eastern shore of the Paraná River, opposite the city of Santa Fe, capital of the neighbouring Santa Fe Province. The city has a population of 237,968 ().
Paraná is not only the head of the provincial government, but also an important river port for the transshipment of cereals, cattle, fish, and lumber from the surrounding region. The principal industries installed are the manufacture of cement, furniture, and ceramics.
The centre of the city gathers colonial churches, European styles such as that of the 3 de Febrero Theatre or the Government House, the mixed styles of the city's Cathedral, and modern towers like those near the Parque Urquiza park.

The city is connected to the city of Santa Fe on the other side of the Entre Ríos by the Hernandarias Subfluvial Tunnel inaugurated in 1969.
The General Justo José de Urquiza Airport (IATA PRA) at coordinates is 7.5 kilometres from the city, and services regular flights to Buenos Aires.

History

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During the 16th century, inhabitants of the city of Santa Fe settled also at the other side of the Paraná River. Known as de la otra Banda del Paraná ("from the other side of the Paraná") and Baxada del Paraná ("Ford of the Paraná"), the settlement never had an official foundation, and it slowly grew as a satellite town of Santa Fe.

On October 23 1730 the local chapel was granted by the clerical authorities in Buenos Aires the status of parish church; that date was adopted as the beginning of the official history of the town.

In 1813 it achieved status of village, and in 1822 it was named capital of the territory of the present province. Between 1854 and 1861 it was the capital of the Confederación Argentina ("Argentine Confederation") during the rule of the local caudillo Justo José de Urquiza, that gave the city a rapid growth. In 1883 it regained its title of capital of the province.

In 1994 Paraná hosted the...