Caratinga

Caratinga is a Brazilian municipality located in the countryside of the state of Minas Gerais in the Southeast Region of Brazil. Situated in the Vale do Rio Doce, it is part of the Vale do Aço metropolitan area, approximately 310 kilometres (190 mi) east of the state capital, Belo Horizonte. The municipality covers an area of 1,258.479 square kilometres (485.901 sq mi), with 17 square kilometres (6.6 sq mi) in the urban area, and its population was estimated at 90,687 inhabitants in 2024.

The exploration of the region began in the 16th century with expeditions along the Doce and Caratinga rivers in search of precious metals. However, the area was first settled in the 19th century when Domingos Fernandes Lana explored it for ipecac, a valuable medicinal plant, and reported on the fertile lands and peaceful indigenous population. Subsequently, João Caetano do Nascimento, a friend of Lana, led an expedition to the region, claimed the land, and dedicated it to Saint John, officially founding the settlement on 24 June 1848, in honor of the saint's feast day.

Favorable agricultural conditions and its strategic location as the only urban center on the right bank of the Caratinga River spurred population growth, leading to emancipation from Manhuaçu in 1890. Despite unplanned urban expansion, development accelerated with the arrival of the Leopoldina Railway and the BR-116 (Rio–Bahia Highway) in the 1930s and 1940s. The coffee industry flourished in the 1950s following the establishment of an office of the Brazilian Coffee Institute, positioning Caratinga as a coffee production hub. Coffee cultivation, alongside commerce, remains a primary source of income, though industry has grown since the 1980s. A new urban nucleus also emerged parallel to the original city center due to the expansion of the Vale do Aço metropolitan area.

Caratinga is home to significant environmental conservation areas, including the Feliciano Miguel Abdala Private Natural Heritage Reserve, one of Minas Gerais' most important Atlantic Forest remnants, which shelters the northern muriqui, one of the largest primates in the Americas. The reserve attracts researchers from around the world. Other notable landmarks include the Pedra Itaúna, historic farms, waterfalls, and lagoons in the rural areas, and the scenic Cesário Alvim Square, which includes the St. John the Baptist Cathedral, built in 1930. Cultural traditions such as the Folia de Reis, artistic festivals, and June festivals are also prominent.