Caldas Novas

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Municipality in Central-West, BrazilCaldas NovasMunicipalityCaldas Novas from the air FlagCoat of armsLocation in Goiás stateCaldas NovasLocation in BrazilCoordinates: 17°44′42″S 48°37′30″W / 17.74500°S 48.62500°W / -17.74500; -48.62500CountryBrazilRegionCentral-WestStateGoiásMicroregionMeia PonteArea • Total1,588 km2 (613 sq mi)Elevation686 m (2,251 ft)Population (2022 Census) • Total98,622 • Estimate (2025)106,820 • Density62.10/km2 (160.9/sq mi)Time zoneUTC−3 (BRT)Postal code75690-000Websitewww.caldasnovas.go.gov.br Caldas Novas (Portuguese: [kawˈdɐz ˈnɔvɐs]) is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Goiás. It is the largest hydro-thermal resort in the world.

[edit] Caldas Novas is located 170 km south of state capital, Goiânia. It belongs to the Meia Ponte Microregion, which has 338,147 inhabitants (2007) in 21 cities and a total area of 21,229.00 km2. Highway connections are made by BR-352 / Bela Vista de Goiás / GO-147 / Piracanjuba / GO-217 / GO-139 / GO-213. Neighboring municipalities are: North: Santa Cruz de Goiás and Piracanjuba South: Corumbaíba East: Ipameri West: Rio Quente and Morrinhos The city and region are served by Nelson Ribeiro Guimarães Airport.

[edit] Population density in 2007: 39.13 inhabitants/km2 Population growth rate 1996/2007: 4.18% Total population in 2007: 62,204 Total population in 1980: 11,274 Urban population in 2007: 55,376 Rural population in 2007: 2,140 Population change: the population has grown from 11,000 in 1980.

[edit] Eligible voters in 2007: 43,274 City government in 2005: mayor (Magda Mofatto Hon), vice-mayor (Silvânia Fernandes e Silva), and 10 councilmembers. Besides the municipal seat there are the "povoados" (villages) of Nossa Senhora de Fátima and Vila de Furnas; and the "aglomerados" (hamlets) of Junqueilândia, Paraíso and Sapé.

[edit] In 1777 Martinho Coelho and Gustavo- Mauricio Silva De Carvalho Alves discovered the hot water springs that became known as Caldas de Piratinga, later changing the name to Caldas, on the banks of the Caldas River. The discover registered the land and established a ranch on the left bank of the river, which he named "Fazenda das Caldas". Gold was found in small quantities attracting prospectors and others in search of cures in the hot waters. In 1850 another settlement arose on the right bank of the river near the hot springs, where a church was soon built. In 1857 Caldas Novas became a district and in 1911 it became a municipality. [citation needed]

[edit] The main source of income of the municipality is tourism. Caldas Novas is known throughout Brazil as one of the largest hydrothermal resorts in the world so in the high season the city receives as many as 100,000 tourists and at carnival as many as 300,000 people. Almost two thousand people are employed in this sector. The infrastructure of the city has more than 80 hotels and pensions (12,000 beds), (many with heated swimming pools and all with hot water produced by the natural thermal system), chalets, clubs, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. (All data are from Sepin/IBGE) Economic Data (2007) Industrial establishments: 144 Financial Institutions in 2007: Banco do Brasil S.A. - Bradesco S.A. - Banco Itaú S.A. - CEF - HSBC Bank Brasil S.A. -Banco Multiplo Dairies: Laticínios Serina Ltda.; - Coop. M. dos Prod. de Leite de Morrinhos Ltda. Retail establishments in 2007: 1,282 Industrial district: Distrito Agroindustrial de Caldas Novas (June/2006) Automobiles: 10,500 (2007) Main agricultural products in ha.(2006) cotton: 120 rice: 600 banana: 20 coconut: 20 oranges: 220 lemon: 15 corn: 3,600 soybeans: 15,600 sorghum: 1,200 Farm Data (2006)in ha. Number of farms: 551 Total area: 79,324 Area of permanent crops: 114 Area of perennial crops: 17,634 Area of natural pasture: 40,770 Persons dependent on farming: 1,100 Farms with tractors: 136 Number of tractors: 211

[edit] Health clinics: 14 (2007) Hospitals: 04 (03 private) Hospital beds: 131 Infant mortality in 2000: 21.55 Schools: 52 Students: 18,765 Higher education: (2006) Faculdade de Caldas Novas, Faculdade Sete de Setembro FSS, and Unidade Universitária da UEG. Literacy rate in 2000: 92.5

[edit] In the United Nations Human Development Index Caldas Novas had a rating of 0.802,which ranked it 10 out of a total of 242 municipalities in the state of Goiás. Nationally it was ranked 533 out of 5,507 municipalities.[citation needed]

[edit] In Caldas Novas there are 86 active wells, pumping an average of 1,200 m3 an hour, in a period of 14 daily hours. The temperature of the water varies between 34 and 57 °C. The first references to the hot water of this region were published in Spain in 1545. In 1722, Bartolomeu Bueno da Silva, son of the famous bandeirante, Anhangüera, turning off the trail blazed by his father years before, discovered the thermal springs that form the Rio Quente. These were called Caldas Velhas and were located in the place where the Rio Quente Resorts is now located. The most important study about the thermal ism of Caldas Novas and the Rio Quente was carried out by the state enterprise Furnas Centrais Elétricas, due to the possible influence of the Usina Hidrelétrica Corumbá I dam on the thermal water table of the region, which would be under the risk of cooling. According to Furnas, the phenomenon of the hot water is produced by peculiar geological and topographic characteristics. For years it was thought that a volcano had existed in the area in whose crater rainwater infiltrated, heating at great depths and then returning to the surface by way of cracks in the rock. More modern studies show that there is no indication of volcanic activity in the region. Studies show that the water is formed by rainfall that is stored in a layer of quartzite and due to pressure is sent to the surface in a column 600 meters. The suspicion that the cold water of the reservoir of Usina Corumbá I could infiltrate the thermal watertable of Caldas Novas and Rio Quente has no basis, since the waters of the lake are at an elevation of 595 meters, well below the source of the water, at 644 meters. The municipality contains part of the 12,315-hectare (30,430-acre) Caldas Novas State Park which protects the Serra de Caldas plateau region that is the main source of water for the geothermal aquifers of the region. Ecotourism is also present at Caldas Novas as the city is located near the Corumbá River and the Caldas Novas State Park. In the surrounding area there is a lake - Lago de Piratininga - with boiling water; a reservoir called Lago de Corumbá with 64 square kilometers damming the Corumbá; and another river - the Rio Quente - which has natural warm water.

[edit] One of the largest hotwater resort complexes in the world - Rio Quente Resorts - is located 20 kilometers to the west of Caldas in the municipality of Rio Quente. With seven hotels, a convention center, and 500 square kilometres of space it receives more than 1 million tourists a year.