Palmas, Tocantins
This article describes the Brazilian metropolis. For other meanings, see Palmas (disambiguation).
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Palmas, officially Portuguese Município de Palmas, is the capital of the Brazilian state of Tocantins.
After its creation in 1990, it is the youngest of all Brazilian state capitals. It had an estimated population of 306,296 as of July 1, 2020, and the municipal area has an extension of about 2227.4 square kilometers. Palmas is located on the Rio Tocantins at an altitude of 230 to 280 meters. The distance to the federal capital Brasília is about 1000 kilometers, the nearest major city Goiânia is almost 900 kilometers away.
Palmas has a hot and dry climate with an average annual temperature of 27 °C, but in summer the temperature regularly rises up to 40 °C.
History
The division of the state of Tocantins from Goiás and the creation of Palmas as the capital of the new state was decided in a constitutional amendment in 1988.
The foundation stone for the city was laid on 20 May 1989. The municipal area for Palmas was separated from the municipalities of Porto Nacional and Taquarassu do Porto. The city was named after São João da Palma, the seat of an independence movement that had established itself in the area in the early 19th century, and the many palm trees that characterize the natural landscape around Palmas.
On 1 January 1990, the government offices were transferred from Miracema do Tocantins to Palmas, making Palmas the capital.
Archdiocese of Palmas
- Archdiocese of Palmas
