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.

Rio Grande do Norte Beaches

Situado na Zona Oeste do Estado, o Pólo Costa Branca é marcado por um incrível contraste: de um lado, a vegetação caatinga, repleta de xique-xiques e juremas. Do outro, o mar, dunas multicoloridas, falésias e quilômetros de praias praticamente desertas. A tranqüilidade da atividade rural convive em plena harmonia com a movimentação turística. Essa região é grande produtora de sal, petróleo e fruticultura. Reúne sítios arqueológicos e paleontológicos. O Pólo Cosa Branca possui uma boa infra-estrutura turística, composta por hotéis, pousadas, bares e restaurantes. Este é um lugar único, onde o mar encontra o sertão e o sertão literalmente vira mar.

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

In 1597, after some years during which French pirates, led by Jacques Riffault, established regular commercial activities with the native population, the ninth Portuguese Governor-General of Brazil, Francisco de Sousa, ordered the expulsion of the buccaneers. The successful expedition was led by the Captain-Major of the Captaincy of Pernambuco, Manuel de Mascarenhas Homem, with the assistance of Jerônimo de Albuquerque Maranhão.

Albuquerque Maranhão began on January 6, 1598 the construction of the Fort of the Holy Kings or of the Magi-Kings (“Forte dos Santos Reis” or “Forte dos Reis Magos”), named after the Three Wise Men, honored in the Christian feast of the Epiphany, celebrated on that day.

On December 25, 1599, Natal (whose name means Nativity or Christmas in Portuguese) was established as a village outside the fort. The fort, city, and surrounding areas were occupied by Dutch forces from 1633 to 1654.

The sandy soil of Natal prevented the city from becoming a producer of sugarcane, during the colonial times. For centuries, the economy of the State was based on the raising of cattle in the dry interior lands; the cattle was sent alive to the larger centers, to be used as traction, or was turned into jerked beef, to be used as food; the most typical food of Natal, “carne de sol” (sun meat), has origins in that jerked beef.

 
Alberto Maranhão Theater (on the inside of it).Last century, Natal benefited from the growth of the industries of salt (the north of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer in Brazil) and petroleum (the largest inland Brazilian reserves are in the State). Natal grew quickly, but in a somewhat planned way (compared to other major Brazilian cities); transit flows smoothly, public services are well distributed, ecologic conscience is visible; violence levels are low. Tourists (first Brazilians, more recently foreigners) discovered the city, which became one of the major tourist destinations in Brazil.

Because of its strategic position (Natal is one of the cities in Brazil nearest to Western Europe and Africa, especially Dakar, Senegal), an American air base was built in a suburb of Natal named Parnamirim during World War II as part of the so-called Operation Rainbow; this base provided support for allied troops combating in the north of Africa. Thousands of American soldiers were sent to Natal, and their presence left traces in the culture of the city.

(Source: Wikipedia)