| Campos do Jordão | |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality |
| Official Name: | Municipality of Campos do Jordão |
| Nickname: | Brazilian Switzerland |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Pushpin Map: | Brazil |
| Pushpin Map Size: | 250 |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location of Campos do Jordão in Brazil |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Subdivision Name: |  Brazil |
| Subdivision Name1: | Southeast |
| Subdivision Type3: | Metropolitan Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Marcelo Padovan (PSDB) |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | April 29, 1874 |
| Area Total Km2: | 290.520 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 52,405 |
| Population Density Km2: | 164.76 |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Timezone: | BRT |
| Utc Offset: | -3 |
| Coordinates: | -22.7389°N -45.5908°W |
| Elevation M: | 1628 |
| Area Code: | +55 12 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | 12460-000 |
| Blank Name: | HDI (2010) |
| Blank Info: | 0.749 – high[2] |
Campos do Jordão (pronounced as /pt/) is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil. It is part of the Metropolitan Region of Vale do Paraíba e Litoral Norte.[3] The population is 52,405 (2020 est.) in an area of 290.52km2.[4] The city is situated 1628m (5,341feet) above sea level and is the highest city in Brazil.[5]
There are numerous outdoor activities for tourists and winter residents. These include hiking, mountain climbing, treetop cable swings (arborismo), horseback riding, and ATV and motorbike riding. July, of winter season vacations, sees an enormous influx of visitors (more than quadrupling the city's population), due in part to the winter festival of classical music.
Its attractions throughout the year include German, Swiss and Italian cuisine restaurants, bars, and a cable car. There are many pousadas (inns) and chalets. Also, in order to cater to the large number of visitors, several bars, lounges, discos and clubs open during the winter months.
| Race | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White | 83.9% |
| Multiracial | 12.2% |
| Black | 2.3% |
| Asian | 0.5% |
The city's economy is based mainly on tourism; due to its location at high elevation in the Mantiqueira Mountains, and traditional European-style architecture. Buildings are mostly vernacular architecture from German, Swiss, or Italian models. Many of the wealthiest residents in the state of São Paulo have winter country houses here.
Despite the high income of many visitors, the HDI (0.820 in 2004) of Campos do Jordão is not very high because the owners of the houses in the best neighbourhoods are not regular inhabitants; these houses are used only during the holidays. The city can be reached from São Paulo mainly by road through the Rodovia Floriano Rodrigues Pinheiro. There is also a picturesque railroad from Pindamonhangaba, used mostly by tourists. At the end of the main road going through Campos do Jordão, there is a state park called Horto Florestal.
The municipality contains the Campos do Jordão State Park, created in 1941.It contains the Mananciais de Campos do Jordão State Park, created in 1993 to protect the water supply of the municipal seat.It also contains the Campos do Jordão Environmental Protection Area, created in 1984.
The Mantiqueira Mountains provide unique panoramic views, and the municipality's region still has undeveloped old growth Atlantic Forest habitat. The native Brazilian Paraná pine (Araucaria angustifolia) is found here.
A former state governor had a winter residence in the city, the Boa Vista Palace, which is now a museum in the city.[6]
The city is located in the northeastern side of the State of São Paulo, bordering Minas Gerais in the north. Campos do Jordão is at a distance of 180 km (112 miles) from the City of São Paulo, 334 km (208 miles) from the City of Rio de Janeiro, and 486 km (302 miles) from Belo Horizonte.
Campos do Jordão is located on a crystalline plateau where the High Felds are located (in Portuguese: Altos Campos) formed from the quaternary, increasing the geomorphological risks with the increase of urbanization and seen inadequate occupations as in straight slopes.[7] These areas may be at risk of landslide. The municipality has rounded topos and amphitheaters where organic clay is found due to erosive processes and due to this constitution its characteristic is the concentration of water.[8]
| Largest accumulations of precipitation at 24 hours registered in Fields of the Jordan by months (INMET, 1961–present)[9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Accumulated | Date | |
| January | 121.1 mm (4.77 in) | January 24, 1963 | |
| February | 96.3 mm (3.79 in) | February 6, 1963 | |
| March | 146.7 mm (5.78 in) | March 10, 1965 | |
| April | 90.6 mm (3.57 in) | April 29, 1965 | |
| May | 108.4 mm (4.27 in) | May 25, 2005 | |
| June | 71 mm (2.8 in) | June 9, 1978 | |
| July | 74.4 mm (2.93 in) | July 25, 2007 | |
| August | 60.6 mm (2.39 in) | August 20, 1965 | |
| September | 75.4 mm (2.97 in) | September 6, 1983 | |
| October | 129.5 mm (5.10 in) | October 14, 1995 | |
| November | 102.8 mm (4.05 in) | November 20, 1971 | |
| December | 111.4 mm (4.39 in) | December 24, 1971 | |
Although at a higher elevation than the higher portions of Santa Catarina, the latitude compensates for such a difference by providing slightly warmer winters with sporadic snowfall over an extended period, associated with the drier mid-year air. As it is a montane vegetation and with mild temperatures, trees like Araucaria augustifolia is part of the ecosystem of the highest part of the Mantiqueira Mountains.[13] [14] [15] The annual evaporation rate is one of the lowest of the cities of São Paulo, which can lead to water deficiencies in the driest months.[16]
The average annual precipitation is approximately 1850 mm annually, with the majority falling in December and January.[17] The average annual compensated temperature is 14.5°C. While there are cooler cities, the cooler weather tends to persist longer, averaging lower temperatures than municipalities like Curitiba, Lages or Canela.[18] Temperatures can drop below zero in winter, reaching a few degrees Celsius in the Paraíba Valley, with a thermal sensation that may be even lower. However, there are years when temperatures rise above freezing, as was the case in 1999.[19] [20] As previously mentioned, despite the high altitude and latitude, the conditions are not conducive to regular snowfall in the city. As a result, snow occurrences are rare, with recorded events in years such as 1928,[21] 1942,[22] 1947 and 1966. These occurrences occurred at intervals of approximately two decades, but such events seem to have ceased in recent times. Additionally, the recorded dates of snowfall are not universally agreed upon, and the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET), which has been operational since 1944, has not documented any instances of snowflakes in the area.[23]
According to data from INMET, since 1961 the absolute minimum temperature recorded in Campos do Jordão was -7.2°C, on June 6, 1988.[24] According to the Forecast Center (CPTEC), the winter of 1988 was the coldest on record. In contrast, between 2008 and 2018, the lowest temperature recorded was only -3.8°C, indicating that urbanization can moderate colder conditions.[25] Prior to 1988, unofficial records show even lower temperatures: -7.4°C on 26 June 1918, -8°C on 25 July 1923,[26] and -8.7°C in July 1926.[27] The absolute maximum temperature during this period was 30.5 °C on September 17, 1961. Temperatures also reached 30 °C on two other occasions: September 21, 1961, and October 14, 1963, with limited available data.[28] Cold temperatures are more common in June and July, but during the afternoon, temperatures typically rise above freezing, although they remain cool. September and April generally consist of pleasant days, with temperatures above 30 °C being rare occurrences.[29]
The largest accumulated precipitation in 24 hours in Campos do Jordão was 146.7 mm on March 10, 1965. Other significant precipitation events include 129.5 mm on October 14, 1995, 121.1 mm on January 24, 1964, 118.2 mm on March 8, 1966, 111.4 mm on December 24, 1971, 108.4 mm on May 25, 2005, 106.4 mm on December 14, 1971, 104.2 mm on December 2, 1963, 102.8 mm on November 20, 1971, and 101.2 mm on December 22, 1966.[30] The month with the highest precipitation in Campos do Jordão was December 1971, with a recorded total of 606.6 mm.[31] Interestingly, Christmas Day has the highest average rainfall in Campos do Jordão, with a 75% chance of precipitation. This trend of high rainfall continues throughout December and January. It is also notable that 75% of the annual rainfall in Campos do Jordão occurs between spring and summer. The variation in altitude and the presence of valleys contribute to differences in the total precipitation across the municipality, with humidity levels decreasing towards the interior of the plateau.[32]
The seasonal variation of cloudiness is notable. The period from the beginning of April to the middle of October is the most conducive for sunlight, with the end of August experiencing the least cloud cover, allowing for up to 70% of clear skies. The remainder of the year tends to be cloudier, with mid-January seeing up to 77% of overcast skies. The duration between the shortest and longest days of the year typically aligns with astronomical cycles.
The second half of the year usually experiences stronger winds, particularly between September and October, with average speeds of 8 km/h. In contrast, the period between February and March is characterized by calmer winds, with average speeds of 6 km/h. The prevailing wind direction is from the north for about two-thirds of the year, especially from the end of April to the end of September. The second most common wind direction, from the east, occurs for nearly four months of the year.
In telecommunications, the city was served by Companhia de Telecomunicações do Estado de São Paulo until 1975, when it began to be served by Telecomunicações de São Paulo.[33] In July 1998, this company was acquired by Telefónica, which adopted the Vivo brand in 2012.
The company is currently an operator of cell phones, fixed lines, internet (fiber optics/4G) and television (satellite and cable).[34]
INMET - Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
. www.inmet.gov.br. 2019-03-09.