Porto Alegre has the highest quality of life of all major Brazilian cities. Compared to other cities in the country, traffic flows quite freely in Porto Alegre, and the relatively small area of the city ensures all trips are brief. Salgado Filho International Airport is only 10 km from downtown Porto Alegre, and the city offers a wide variety of efficient public transportation services.
With a population of nearly 1.45 million, Porto Alegre is currently the tenth most populous city in Brazil. It is located on the shores of the Guaíba River, which is actually an estuary famous for its stunning sunset views.
Despite its status as a highly developed urban area, Porto Alegre is also one of the greenest cities in the world, with more than a million trees, 409 city squares, nine urban parks, a nature reserve, and the largest bird population of any Brazilian capital. It also has one of the highest Human Development Indices in the country, and is the center of the fourth largest metropolitan area in Brazil. No wonder Porto Alegre was chosen as one of the 12 host cities of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Several urban developments are planned, including conversion of several avenues to two-lane roadways and expansion of the city’s subway grid, which currently connects Porto Alegre proper to the metropolitan region. |
