Passo Fundo

Accessibility

The following highways leave Passo Fundo:

The town is served by Lauro Kurtz Airport located on BR-285, São José. Daily flights from Passo Fundo are headed to:

Distances to other major cities

Distances from Passo Fundo to:

Climate

Lying near latitude 28° at an elevation of 690 Passo Fundo has a humid subtropical climate. The annual mean temperature is 17.7 °C with highs of 28.4 °C in January and 18.3 °C in July and lows of 17.7 °C in January and 8.8 °C in July. Winters can be slightly cool with temperatures below 0 °C, frequent frosts and occasional snowfalls. Rainfall is spread out throughout the year with September receiving the highest amount (183.4 mm) and May receiving the lowest amount (133.5 mm). Humidity is around 70% every month.

Economy

The economy is predominantly based on services, with some light industry and agriculture in the surrounding area. Transformation industries employed 8,731 workers in 2006, with commerce employing 19,287, public administration employing 2,808, education employing 3,374, and health employing 4,624 workers.

In the agricultural sector there was limited cattle-raising activity due to the small area of the municipality. The poultry industry was of some significance. The main crops were corn, soybeans, and wheat. In 2006 there were 887 farms employing around 3,600 workers, most of whom were relatives of the farm owner.

Health and education

Passo Fundo is the third largest medical center in southern Brazil. The city has one of the largest and most modern radiology centers and radiation based at São Vicente de Paulo Hospital.

On the Human Development Index Passo Fundo was given .804 in 2000, ranking 149 out of 467 municipalities in the state and 478 out of 3,527 municipalities in the country. Life expectancy (male and female) was 68.5 and the literacy rate was 94%.

In 2005 there were 72 health establishments, of which 4 were hospitals providing 837 beds (69 public).

Endereço: Alcides Moura, 82 - Vila Popular

Endereço: Tiradentes, 295 - Centro

Endereço: Doutor Arthur Leite, 37 - Centro

Endereço: Teixeira Soares, 808 - Centro

In the educational sector there were 78 primary schools, 8 middle and secondary schools, and 53 pre-primary schools. In 2005 there were 5 institutes of higher education with around 12,000 students.

The schools of higher education are:

Endereço: Sete de Setembro, 1045 - Centro Site:www.senacrs.com.br

Endereço: Senador Pinheiro, 304 - Vila Cruzeiro Site:www.imed.edu.br

Endereço: Paissandu, 1200 - Centro Site:www.faplan.edu.br

Endereço: RS-153, 555 - Vila Nossa Senhora Aparecida Site:www.facportal.com.br

Endereço: BR-285, Km 171 - São José Site:www.upf.tche.br

National Renown

Passo Fundo is nicknamed "A Terra de Gente Boa", Portuguese for "The Land of Good People or Folks." The city is known as being one of the most gaúcho cities in all of Rio Grande do Sul. It is not uncommon to see gaúchos walking the streets of Passo Fundo dressed in their full "pilcha" or typical gaúcho costumes. It is also known by the country as the National Capital of Literature, according to the law nº 11.264, because of the many literary events and debates organized in the city, such as the National Journey of Literature and the highest readership in the country (6,5 books per year per inhabitant).

Notable people

Passo Fundo is the home town of the football coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, and also of the philosopher, opera singer, poet and Germanic philologist Henrique García, and the adopted place of Teixeirinha, a Gaúcho folkloric performer, the modern gaúcho band Pala Velho, as well as it is known for being Pipe's birthplace. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Passo Fundo, elevated from a Diocese in 2011. It is also home of supermodel Letícia Birkheuer and famous volleyball players and brothers Gustavo and Murilo Endres.

In popular culture