Happy TravellerWelcome to Petrolina, a vibrant municipality located in the southernmost point of the state of Pernambuco, in Northeast Brazil, in the valley of the São Francisco River. With a population of 354,317 in 2020 and a total area of 4,756.8 km², Petrolina is the largest municipality in the state by area. The municipality is closely integrated with Juazeiro, Bahia, located on the opposite bank of the São Francisco.
Petrolina has a rich history that dates back to the late 20th century when the Sobradinho Dam was constructed, providing abundant water for irrigation in these otherwise semi-arid soils. The region is perhaps the only one in the interior of the Northeast that has gained population through in-migration. While the population in the states of Pernambuco and Bahia as a whole increased by 50.1% between 1970 and 1990, it more than doubled in Petrolina-Juazeiro. Agriculture has grown by leaps and bounds with irrigated farming being the main source of income and jobs in Petrolina. The Petrolina-Juazeiro nucleus has turned into a producer of a wide range of irrigated high-value crops, including table grapes and mangos that are sold fresh by cargo aircraft to Europe and the United States, and other crops for the domestic market, including bananas, coconuts, guavas, passion fruit, melons, industrial tomatoes, watermelons and onions, among others. Due to irrigation, growers in Petrolina-Juazeiro produce 90% of the country’s exports of mangos and 30% of table grapes, displacing the states of São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul as the most important exporters of these products.
Petrolina is situated on the left (northern) bank of the São Francisco River, in the interior semi-arid Sertão subregion, at an elevation of 376 m. On the other side of the river sits Juazeiro, in the state of Bahia, and together the cities form an integrated metropolitan area. The two cities, making up an urban area of almost 700,000 people, are connected by the President Dutra Bridge. The Sobradinho Dam is located 26 km up river, and creates the Sobradinho Reservoir, the 34th largest reservoir by volume in the world.
Petrolina’s climate is very hot and dry, being classified as hot semi-arid (Köppen climate classification BSh). Petrolina is located in the semi-arid Sertão belt of the Northeastern Region of Brazil that has a distinctively erratic and seasonal rainfall. The rainy season begins in November and ends in April. After that, the climate is still dry until October, and in many years there is very little rain even during the rainy season.
As of 2020, the estimated population of Petrolina is 354,317. Of the population in 2010, 83,360 inhabitants (28.36%) were under the age of 15, 196,957 people were aged between 15 and 64 years (67.00%), 13,645 people were over 65 years of age (4.64%). Life expectancy in the municipality was 73 years and the total fertility rate was 2.2 children per woman. The Human Development Index (HDI) of Petrolina was 0.697, classified as medium by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), sixth highest among the municipalities of the state and the highest in the interior of Pernambuco.
Petrolina’s main economic activities are irrigated agriculture and its related industries. The municipality is the largest producer of mangoes and grapes in Brazil, and also produces guava, banana, coconut, and other crops. There is also a substantial number of animals, including goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, donkeys, mules, and horses. Petrolina hosts campuses of the Federal University of Vale do São Francisco and the University of Pernambuco, as well as private universities. The municipality is headed by a mayor (Brazilian Portuguese: Prefeito/Prefeita), overseen by a city council (Câmara Municipal) that passes laws. The current mayor is Miguel Coelho of the Brazilian Socialist Party, first elected in 2016, and re-elected in 2020.
Petrolina is a hidden gem that boasts a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine. With its vibrant culture, friendly people, and unique attractions, Petrolina is a must-visit destination for any traveler looking to experience the best of Northeast Brazil.
