Triângulo Mineiro

The Triângulo Mineiro is an unofficial region in western Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The area is 93,500 km² (a little larger than Portugal) and is limited by the Serra da Canastra and Marcela in the east, in the south by São Paulo, in the north by Goiás, and in the west by the junction of the Paranaíba and Grande rivers. The name means "Minas Gerais' Triangle", as the junction of these rivers gives it a triangle like shape.

It is known as being a highly developed region, well watered, with rich pastureland producing some of the best beef and dairy cattle in the country.

Three of the most important cities in Minas Gerais are located here: Uberlândia, Uberaba, and Araguari. They are known for their modernity, excellent infrastructure and high standard of living and have excellent highway and railway connections to the major centers of the country.

The economy is fueled by the agro-business of meat production, coffee, corn, soybeans, and sugarcane. Other activities are wholesale commerce and telecommunications. Many large multinationals and domestic companies have invested in the region.

The region is famous for great fairs like Expozebu in Uberaba, Fenamilho in Patos de Minas and Feniub in Uberlândia.

Periodically the region debates the possibility of separating from Minas Gerais and creating another state and possibly Uberlândia would be the capital. [http://www.uaisites.adm.br/iclas/ondeestamos9.htm] and [http://www.igeo.uerj.br/VICBG-2004/Eixo5/e5%20065.htm]

In Paleontology the region is very important for the discovery of the Maxakalisaurus topai (Dinoprata) fossils, a genus of titanosaurid dinosaur, found 45 kilometers (28 mi) from the city of Prata (Triângulo Mineiro), in the state of Minas Gerais in 1998. It was closely related to Saltasaurus, a sauropod considered unusual because it had evolved apparently defensive traits, including bony plates on its skin and vertical plates along its spine; such osteoderms have also been found for Maxakalisaurus.

The genus name is derived from the tribe of the Maxakali; Topa is one of their divinities.

The "Maxakalisaurus" fossils belonged to an animal about 13 meters (43.3 ft) long, with an estimated weight of 9 tons, although, according to paleontologist Alexander Kellner, it could reach a length of approximately 20 meters (65 ft). It had a long neck and tail, ridged teeth (unusual among sauropods) and lived about 80 million years ago. Because sauropods seem to have lacked significant competition in South America, they evolved there with greater diversity and more unusual traits than elsewhere in the world.Its replics is exposed at the Museu Nacional in Rio de Janeiro, since August 28th, 2006.

Major cities (all include the total municipality population)

Uberlândia - 615.345

Uberaba - 290.344
Patos de Minas - 141.692

Araguari- 111.069

Ituiutaba - 92.932

Araxá - 86.724

Patrocínio - 83.658