Carnatal 2009 will take place December 3rd through December 6th around Machadão Stadium in Natal.  Carnatal is Brazil’s largest micareta (off-season Carnival).  Expect crowds of 300,000 with 40,000 of them being tourists.  Carnatal is the kickoff of the season of Summer in Christmas.  Come see why Carnatal is better than Carnival in Rio de Janeiro!

This year’s blocos include:  Swingaê!, Amar É, Caju, Bicho, Nana Banana, Aviões Elétrico, Burro Elétrico, Cerveja & Coco, Cidadão Nota 10, and Me Leva

You can follow this year’s Carnatal on Twitter.

Official website this year’s Carnatal: http://www.carnatal.com.br/ (Portuguese)

Porta de entrada do Estado, localizado no litoral oriental, onde o azul do mar e o brilho do sol dão boas-vindas aos visitantes, que se encantam pelas belezas das praias, lagoas, falésias, dunas e o maior cajueiro do mundo. Uma viagem de emoções e muita aventura nos passeios de buggy, mergulho e esportes radicais. O visitante também conta com uma completa infra-estrutura turística. O Pólo Costa das Dunas encanta ainda pelo rico artesanato, folclore, além de muitos monumentos turísticos, repletos de história, irresistível gastronomia potiguar com o camarão e a famosa carne de sol. Destaque para a capital Natal e praias internacionalmente conhecidas, como Ponta Negra, Genipabu e Pipa.

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This is the entrance door to the State, located on the East shore, where the blue sea and the brilliant Sun welcome the visitors that are enchanted by the beauty of the beaches, lakes, cliffs, dunes and the largest cashew tree in the world. An emotional trip and lots of adventure on the buggy rides, diving and ectrem sports. The visitor can also count on a complete tourist infrastructure. The Costa das Dunas Pole enen more enchants by its rich handicraft, folklore, besides many tourist monuments, full of history, irresistible Potiguar gastronomy with shrimp and the famous ‘carne do sol’. Take special notice to the capitol, Natal and the internationally famous beaches like Ponta Negra, Genipabu e Pipa.

(Source: Secretaria de Turismo do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte)

The population density was 57.7 inh./km².

Urbanization: 72.4% (2006); Population growth: 1.6% (1991–2000); Houses: 832,000 (2006).

The last PNAD (National Research for Sample of Domiciles) census revealed the following numbers: 1,864,000 Pardo (Brown) people (61.1%), 1,128,000 White people (37.0%) and 57,000 Black people (1.9%).

Economy
The service sector is the largest component of GDP at 50.2%, followed by the industrial sector at 44.2%. Agriculture represents 5.6% of GDP (2004). Rio Grande do Norte exports: fish and crustacean 30.5%, fruits 19.3%, woven of cotton 12.3%, petroleum 10.8%, cashew 8.5%, sugar 5.3%, chocolate 3.9%, sea salt 3.7% (2002).

Share of the Brazilian economy: 0.9% (2004).

Historically, Rio Grande do Norte has relied upon sugar and cattle for its livelihood.  However, since the 1980s, the state government has realised that tourism is a lucrative industry, and more money is being poured into the construction of tourist resorts, and restoring colonial buildings in major cities.

Fruit is also grown in Rio Grande do Norte, with the state supplying 70% of Brazil’s melons, and the state is famed for its mango and cashew fields. The world’s largest cashew tree is located in the state; it has a circumference of 500 centimetres and occupies an area of 7,300cm², making it 70 times the size of average cashew trees. Rio Grande do Norte is also one of three Brazilian states that together produce the world’s entire supply of carnauba wax.