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Definition of pôrto alegre in English English dictionary
- Port and city (pop., 2002: city, 1,342,900; metro. area, 3,765,500), southern Brazil. Located along the Guaíba River near the Atlantic Ocean coast, it was founded 1742 by immigrants from the Azores. It was first known as Pôrto dos Casais. It received many German and Italian settlers in the 19th century. It is a centre of inland navigation and is the most important Brazilian commercial city south of São Paulo; exports include rice, tobacco, and hides. Industries include shipbuilding and the manufacture of textiles, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals. It is also an educational centre