Paraná

Parana is a prosperous state in southern Brazil, home to part of the spectacular Iguazu Falls and the model city of Curitiba, its capital. A leader in agriculture and known for innovative urban planning, it blends fertile farmland, forests and a high quality of life.

Parana ranges from a short Atlantic coast and the Serra do Mar mountains up to a vast interior plateau of farmland and remnant araucaria pine forest. The Iguazu River plunges over Iguazu Falls on its border with Argentina. The climate is subtropical.

Parana's culture reflects strong European immigration, including Italian, German, Polish and Ukrainian communities, alongside a modern, well-planned urban life in Curitiba, often cited as a model of sustainable city planning.

Separated from Sao Paulo in 1853, Parana grew through coffee, then diversified agriculture and industry. Curitiba became internationally renowned for its public transport and urban planning innovations in the late 20th century.