Tocantins

Tocantins (pron. IPA: [to.kɐ̃.'tĩs] ^[1]) is one of the states of Brazil. The state was formed in 1988 out of the northern part of Goiás, and construction began on the capital, Palmas, in 1989, in contrast to most of the other cities in the state which date back to Portuguese colonial period.

Geography

Tocantins forms the boundary between the Amazon Rainforest and the coastal savanna. As a result, the state's geography is varied. Many rivers cross through the state (including one of the same name), and there are over 20 archaeologically significant sites found in Tocantins.

Economy

As with much of Brazil, Tocantins' economy is dependent on cattle raising, though the state's pineapple plantations not only supply much of Brazil with the fruit, but also many other Mercosul nations with it too. In the state's north, charcoal and oils are extracted from the babaçu palm tree.

The federal government, seeking to broaden Tocantins' economic horizons by funding the construction of a hydroelectric dam in the state, allowed a private company to construct a sizable five-turbine hydroelectric dam, blocking the Tocantins river and displacing some indigenous inhabitants. However, its contribution to the state is indisputable - one turbine of the five powers the entire state of Tocantins while the remaining electricity is sold to other parts of Brazil.

History

What is today Tocantins state was first explored by Jesuit missionaries in about 1625, seeking to convert the Amerindian peoples of the area to Christianity. The area is named after the Tocantins River, which in turn is an indigenous name.

Before 1988 the area was part of the Goiás state, in the north of the state. However, ever since the 1600s, the north has been isolated and difficult to access. As a result, the southern area of the state became more developed, and there had been a strong separatist movement in the north for many years.

The first large scale stirrings of separatism were in 1809, when heavy taxes were levied on mining. This led to a minor revolt which was quickly crushed by the army. A string of failed uprisings occurred in the 19th century.

In the 1970s, pressure was put on the federal government by the northern Goiás populace for a separate state, and in the 1988 Constitution, Tocantins state was officially created.

Since its establishment, Tocantins is the fastest-growing Brazilian state, with a thriving economy based on agriculture and agro-industry which attracts immigrants from all over the country. The construction of the long-planned North-South Railway (Brazil) will probably boost the economic growth even more. Tocantins is also considered one of the best-managed Brazilian states.

Flag

The message of the flag is the phrase "where the sun rises for all". In the middle of the flag is the golden yellow sun, with its rays symbolically targeting to the future of the state. The sun is placed on a white band, where the white color represents peace. The blue in the upper left and the yellow in the bottom right represent the waters and the soil of the state. The colors date back to a flag used by the Autonomous Government of Palmas in the 19th century.

The flag was adopted with the state flag law (law no 094/89) of November 17 1989. |}

Cities

Other cities include:

Notes

^ The presented pronunciation is in Brazilian Portuguese variant spoken in Tocantins (and most of Brazil). Other possible pronunciations are: IPA: [to.kɐ̃.'tʃĩs] (most of Southeast, except São Paulo), IPA: [to.kɐ̃.'t^sĩs] (São Paulo). The European Portuguese pronunciation is: /to.kɐ̃.'tĩʃ/.

External links

Estado do Tocantins Official website

States of Brazil
Brazilian Federal District
North	Acre · Amapá · Amazonas · Pará · Rondônia · Roraima · Tocantins
Northeast	Alagoas · Bahia · Ceará · Maranhão · Paraíba · Pernambuco · Piauí · Rio Grande do Norte · Sergipe
Center-West	Goiás · Mato Grosso · Mato Grosso do Sul · Brazilian Federal District
Southeast	Espírito Santo · Minas Gerais · Rio de Janeiro · São Paulo
South	Paraná · Rio Grande do Sul · Santa Catarina

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