Dois ensaios de geografia urbana : Pirapora e Lapa

Abstract

After briefly considering the common characteristics of the cities along the middle São Francisco, the author describes the countryside around Pirapora.

            Then, making a historical sketch of the city, he shows the influence of the waterfall and of the nearby gold-production centers. Finally the coming of the Brazil Central Railroad helped develop the city (figs 2 and 3).

            He describes the urban services of water, light and drainage, and points out how the city is divided into an old and a modern zone where different social and economic classes live.

            He advises moving the city to the opposite bank so that it may be more favorably situated relative to the waterfall. He comments on the important commercial function of the port, but judges its commercial function undeveloped and of limited possibilities.

            The study on Pirapora ends with opinions and suggestions for the future, especially in view of the connection soon to be made with Salvador by the Brazil Central Railroad.
            In the essay on Bom Jesus da Lapa, the author describes the physiographic aspects: an isolated calcareous hill of the Bambuí series, on top of a plain of quaternary sediments.

            Then he compares the contributions of the hill and of the São Francisco river. The river contributed a means of transporting donkeys, clay for houses, and soil for planting between the flood-seasons. The hill contributed paving and lime for the facade of the houses, besides the chapel which founded the city and still gives it "spiritual bread". The houses are shut in by the mountain and face toward it (fig 12).

            The last part of the article describes the chapel of Senhor Bom Jesus da Lapa and the typical annual celebration which causes a periodical "rush" to the middle São Francisco.