Piauí

Piaui is a state in northeastern Brazil with a short coastline and a vast, dry interior, holding some of the oldest archaeological sites in the Americas. Its capital is Teresina, the only northeastern capital not on the coast. It is famed for the prehistoric rock art of Serra da Capivara.

Piaui has one of the shortest coastlines of any Brazilian state, with the rest stretching inland across the semi-arid sertao, plateaus and the Parnaiba river valley. It includes dramatic rock formations at Sete Cidades. The climate is hot and largely dry.

Piaui has a strong sertanejo and northeastern folk culture, with traditional music, crafts and cuisine adapted to the dry backlands. The ancient rock art of its national parks is a source of pride and scientific interest.

Settled inland from the coast through cattle ranching, Piaui is home to Serra da Capivara National Park, whose rock paintings and artefacts suggest very early human presence in the Americas. Teresina was a planned inland capital.