Bahia

Bahia is a state in the northeast area of Brazil on the Atlantic Ocean coast.

State of Bahia
State
Flag Coat of arms
Motto(s):  "Per ardua surgo" (Pela dificuldade venço)
Location of State of Bahia in Brazil
Coordinates: 12°59′S 38°31′W
Country	Brazil
Capital and largest city	Salvador
Government
• Governor	Jaques Wagner
• Vice Governor	Edmundo Pereira Santos
Area
• Total	567,295 km2 (219,034 sq mi)
• Rank	5th
Population  (2010 census)[1]
• Total	14,016,906
• Rank	4th
• Density	25/km2 (64/sq mi)
• Rank	12th
Demonym	Baiano
GDP
• Year	2006 estimate
• Total	R$ 137,075,000,000 (6th)
• Per capita	R$ 9,779.26 (19th)
HDI
• Year	2005
• Category	3.913 <very high>
Time zone	UTC-3 (BRT)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (BRST)
Postal code	40000-000 to 48990-000
ISO 3166 code	BR-BA
Website	bahia.ba.gov.br

Geography

The capital city of Bahia is Salvador. Other cities where many people live are Feira de Santana, Vitória da Conquista, Itabuna, Ilhéus, and Juazeiro. Almost all of Bahia is 200 m above the sea level. The São Francisco River is the longest river in Bahia. Salvador was the capital of Brazil from 1549 until 1763.

Economy

Bahia is the sixth richest Brazilian state. The economy of Bahia is based on industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, tourism, mining and services.

Culture

Bahia is said to have the greatest and most African influence, in terms of culture and customs, in Brazil. Some of these are the martial art of capoeira and African-derived music such as samba, afoxé, and axé.

Acarajé is a popular street food. It is one of the symbols of the culture of Bahia.