Paraíba Valley

The Paraíba Valley (Vale do Paraíba) is a landform that encompasses the regions: Paraíba Valley Metropolitan Region and Northern Coast, in the state of São Paulo and Sul-Fluminense Region, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which stands out for concentrating a considerable portion of the Brazilian economy. The name is due to the fact that the region is part of the Paraíba do Sul river basin, since this river extends from the São Paulo and along almost the entire length of the state of Rio de Janeiro and a small southern part of the Minas Gerais state. In the strict sense, the name "Vale do Paraíba", "Paraíba Valley" in English, should only be used to refer to a region with a certain geographical feature. Therefore, this is not an official IBGE Region, Mesoregion or Microregion. It is located on the banks of the Presidente Dutra highway (BR-116), exactly between the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, within the metropolitan complex formed by the two capitals and with its main urban axis following the Via Dutra route. Although highly urbanized and industrialized, the region also has important nature reserves, such as the Serra da Mantiqueira, on the border with Minas Gerais, one of the highest points in Brazil, and that of Bocaina, an Atlantic Forest stronghold that also includes small towns and farms of historical and architectural interest. The total population of all municipalities in the region is almost 3.3 million, equivalent to the population of the Uruguay. The most important cities in the region are: On Rio's Side: Volta Redonda, Resende, Barra Mansa and Barra do Piraí; On São Paulo's Side: São José dos Campos, Taubaté, Jacareí, Caçapava, Pindamonhangaba, Guaratinguetá, Lorena, Caraguatatuba and Cruzeiro. Beside those cities, Aparecida and Cachoeira Paulista, have great national prominence due to religious tourism. Other cities in the region are: Rio's Side: Itatiaia, Pinheiral, Piraí, Quatis, Rio Claro, Valença, Rio das Flores, Porto Real e Paraty.