The Oldest Church in Brazil

The oldest church in Brazil, the "Igreja da Misericórdia" (or Mercy Church), built in 1526 and rebuilt in 1535, is located in the historical downtown area of Porto Seguro. The church presents inside simplicity style where images in Baroques style are kept, standing out the "Senhor dos Passos" (Lord of Passos) and "Cristo Crucificado" (Crucified Christ).

The Biggest Cavern in South America

In the city of Campo Formoso, Bahian hinterland, a few meters from the surface, it is located "Toca da Boa Vista" cavern, one of the country's biggest and most beautiful caverns, currently with 87 kilometers of galleries and with a potential estimated of more than 150 kilometers.

The cavern is the biggest in South America and is among the 15 biggest in the world. Instead of water, the "Toca da Boa Vista" cavern has formed powder rivers.

Abrolhos

Due to the importance of its ecosystem, Abrolhos was declared the first national marine park in Brazil in 1983. The archipelago's existence has been registered in nautical charts ever since 1506, when it was first noticed by Portuguese sailors who found the formations which in the past used to be considered as rocky, but that we now know are coral reefs. Sailors who had already been in the region warned the novices: "Keep your eyes open when you go through there!" In fact, that is the origin of the name Abrolhos (a contraction of "abra os olhos", in English "open your eyes").

Baroque Architecture

Salvador's Historical Downtown area is the home of the biggest colonial Baroque architectural collection in Latin America. The district is officially preserved by the National Historical Heritage and is considered as Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Area encompasses more than a thousand two-story houses, mansions, manors, churches and convents built in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

Medieval Castle

The majestic ruins of the only medieval castle in the Americas, built back in 1551, are located on the northern coast of the State of Bahia, near Praia do Forte (the Fort Beach).

The "Torre de Garcia D'Ávila" Castle, also known as "Casa da Torre" (Tower House), as "Torre de Garcia D'Ávila" and even as "Torre de Tatuapara" (Tatuapara Tower), is considered the first major Portuguese edification built in Brazil. It was the biggest latifundium in the world, with lands ranging from Bahia to Maranhão.

Built to protect the country from foreign ship attacks, the castle was characterized and preserved as Historical Heritage in 1938, and it is currently the property of the Garcia D'Ávila Foundation. The ruins are located at a privileged vantage point, with a view to the sea, and it still attracts tourists and researchers from all over the world.

Bahia Cigars

Mata Fina region, in Cruz das Almas, State of Bahia, is the only place in the world, beyond Cuba, where we can find tobacco leaves that allow the manufacturer to make a whole cigar, with the filler, wrapper and the binder leaves. A few European factories purchase Bahia's binders to add its blend to their product and get a special flavor. The United States, Germany and other countries are faithful clients of Alonso, Menendez & Amerino factory, the biggest Brazilian cigar manufacturer which is located in the Bahian Reconcavo.

Fruit growing

In billing, Brazilian mango has led the country's in natura fruit exports since 1998. The region accounts for 90% of the national mango export sales.

Meanwhile, the São Francisco Valley grape is produced year-round, the only case of this kind registered in the world. Because of the climate, and as a result of adequate paring and irrigation handling, it is possible to schedule grape harvesting periods according to the rural property's convenience and to market contingencies. Furthermore, Bahia accounts for some 50% of the national papaya production.

On other crop fronts, the State also harvests organic guaraná, a highly valued article for exports. This market niche has been being exploited in the lower southern region, which has been sending powdered guaraná to Germany since 1995. In the past four years alone, the yearly remittances have added up to 4.5 tons, with the kilo of the product being worth as much as $14.

Sobradinho Lake

The world's biggest artificial lake is formed by Sobradinho reservoir, which is located on the São Francisco River, in Northern Bahia. Sobradinho Lake (or Reservoir) surface area measures 4 thousand square kilometers and the dam is capable of storing 34 billion cubic meters of water.

Logistics and Transportation

Salvador Port's Container Terminal ("TECON") is the country's lowest cost specialized facility among those of large and medium movements.

Mining

Bahia is the Brazilian State where producers can find the biggest variety of granite patterns and colors. It is also the only Brazilian producer of the rare Blue granite, in Bahia Blue and Macaúba Blue varieties. Additionally, the State is the only producer of Travertine and Beige Bahia marble in the country. The main producers are Ourolândia, Jacobina and Mirangaba municipalities. Ruy Barbosa municipality, for instance, stands out for the production of "stirred patterns", expression used to denominate granites with many veins.

Carnival

Salvador's Carnival is the biggest in the world in number of participants. Upwards of 2 million people participate in the festivities every year, and the event attracts more than 800,000 tourists to the city. The six-day event takes place all over the 26 kilometers of the city's downtown area, counting on the performances of approximately 100 different street dance groups known as "blocos."

Soy

Bahia is an important Northeastern Region's soy producer. Since 2001, this grain ranks second among the State's main agricultural products, according to data published by SEI. Soy is the main crop in western Bahia, that cultivates almost 900 thousand hectares of soy, producing more than 2.200.000 tons in the harvest 2003/2004. Together with the States of Mato Grosso and Maranhão, Bahia has the biggest soy production and harvesting growth rates.