Explore the cities, localities, and regional context that make up Maranhão.
Maranhão is a state of Brazil.
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Regional answer
Where does Maranhão fit?
Maranhão is a state of Brazil. This directory lists 218 cities and localities in Maranhão.
Country
Brazil
Administrative type
State
Listed localities
218
About Maranhão
Maranhao is a state in northeastern Brazil where the Amazon meets the northeast, known for its stunning dune landscapes and richly preserved colonial capital. Its capital is Sao Luis, a UNESCO World Heritage city founded by the French. It is famous for the otherworldly Lencois Maranhenses sand dunes and lagoons.
Maranhao is a transition zone between the dry northeastern sertao, the Amazon rainforest and the coast, featuring the Lencois Maranhenses, a vast field of white dunes dotted with rainwater lagoons, plus mangroves and the Parnaiba delta. The climate is tropical with a strong wet season.
Maranhao has a vibrant culture blending African, Indigenous and Portuguese roots, famed for the Bumba meu boi festival, reggae music in Sao Luis, and distinctive crafts and cuisine. Sao Luis is known for its colonial tilework.
Founded by the French in 1612 and named after a king, Sao Luis later became Portuguese and a center of cotton and sugar. Maranhao preserves a remarkable colonial heritage and a strong African cultural legacy.
Key facts
The capital is Sao Luis, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
The Lencois Maranhenses dunes and lagoons are a major attraction.
Sao Luis was founded by the French in 1612.
It is famed for the Bumba meu boi festival.
This overview is AI-assisted and grounded with available atlas facts and reference material. Treat linked primary data as authoritative. Read the methodology.
Maranhao is a state in northeastern Brazil where the Amazon meets the northeast, known for its stunning dune landscapes and richly preserved colonial capital. Its capital is Sao Luis, a UNESCO World Heritage city founded by the French. It is famous for the otherworldly Lencois Maranhenses sand dunes and lagoons.
