Mongaguá

Mongaguá
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  E pluribus unum "Out of Many, One"
Location in the state of São Paulo and the country of Brazil.
Coordinates: 24°05′15″S 46°37′44″W
Country	Brazil
State	São Paulo
Founded	December 17, 1959
Government
• Mayor	Marcio Melo Gomes
Area
• Total	141.87 km2 (54.78 sq mi)
Elevation	8 m (26 ft)
Population  (2020 )
• Total	57,648
• Density	410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
Website	mongagua.sp.gov.br

Mongaguá is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista. The population is 57,648 (2020 est.) in an area of 141.87 km². The name comes from the Tupi language. Its seal carries the motto "E pluribus unum".

The municipality's street plan is on a planned grid running from SSE to NNW and many of the houses are within sight of the Atlantic Ocean. The populated area of Mongaguá is near the bottom of steep-sloping and densely forested mountains. The BR-101 superhighway linking Santos and the southern part of the state runs through Mongaguá. The freeway to the city of São Paulo is also easily accessible. Housing developments near the beaches were built in the 1970s and the 1990s. Prior to the construction of the housing developments, the population was mainly rural. Housing development continues to this day.

There are two aboriginal villages in Mongaguá: Aldeia Itaóca and Aguapéu, located in the Atlantic Mata reserve. The aboriginal community of Aguapéu conceived of the project Jaguatareí Nhemboé (Walking and Learning).

History

Pre-colonial era

Around the year 1000, the region was invaded by Tupi peoples from the Amazon. They expelled the previous inhabitants, called Tapuias, to the interior of the continent. When the first Europeans arrived in the region in the 16th century, the Guaranis lived on the banks of the Mongaguá and Aguapeú rivers.

Population history

Year	Population
2004	43,383
2006	46,977
2015	52,492

Mongaguá Fishing Pier

The concrete Mongaguá Fishing Pier (or Plataforma de Pesca Amadora de Mongaguá) is a long T-shaped structure that provides access to line fishing as well as being a popular surfing area.

Media

In telecommunications, the city was served by Telecomunicações de São Paulo. In July 1998, this company was acquired by Telefónica, which adopted the Vivo brand in 2012. The company is currently an operator of cell phones, fixed lines, internet (fiber optics/4G) and television (satellite and cable).

Notable residents

Raul Seixas, the "Father of Brazilian Rock" was known to spend large amounts of time in Bairro Pedreira in Mongaguá where for years he rented a small bungalo as a songwriting studio. And since 2010, the Greek-Californian artist and musician Ithaka Darin Pappas has worked and resided in Mongaguá at his small art ranch called Recanto Akahti (or AkahtiLândia, Brazil). His insect-inspired photo and sculpture works from the project Aliens Of AkahtiLândia were all created in Mongaguá as well as the recording of his instrumental album, Voiceless Blue Raven, which included a song entitled "Monday In Mongaguá."

External links

• (in Portuguese) http://www.mongagua.sp.gov.br
• (in Portuguese) citybrazil.com.br
• (in Portuguese) Portal Nosso São Paulo