| Official Name: | Parnaíba |
| Settlement Type: | city |
| Nickname: | Princess of Igaraçu |
| Mapsize: | 255px |
| Pushpin Map: | Brazil |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Brazil |
| Coordinates: | -2.905°N -41.7769°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Brazil |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Northeast |
| Subdivision Type2: | State |
| Established Title: | Founded |
| Established Date: | August 14, 1844 |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Mão Santa (Solidariedade) |
| Area Total Km2: | 435.564 |
| Population Total: | 153,482 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 [1] |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Demonym: | Parnaibano |
| Timezone: | UTC-3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 64200-001 to 64219-999 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | +55 86 |
Parnaíba (pronounced as /pt/) is a city in the Brazilian state of Piauí. Having a population of over 150,000 inhabitants according to IBGE's 2020 report, it is the second most populous city in the state, after the capital Teresina. It is one of the four coastal municipalities in Piauí (besides Ilha Grande, Luís Correia, and Cajueiro da Praia).
Besides the natural environment, Parnaíba has historical value for Piauí; near Porto das Barcas several historic buildings reflect the importance of Parnaíba, coming at that time to be more important than the former capital Oeiras and taking up same references in Europe.
In 1699, the region between the Igaraçu river and the Serra da Ibiapaba, inhabited by indigenous people, was pioneered by Leonardo de Sá and his companions, who obtained a land grant on the banks of that river.Under the name of Parnaíba, toponym that arose, according to some, from the desire of the first explorers of Piauí to pay homage to the then São Paulo district of Parnaíba, and, according to others, from the Tupi word that means 'great unnavigable river'.From 1761 onwards its development began. At that time, there was a charqueada owned by Domingos Dias da Silva, Portuguese founder of Porto das Barcas and pioneer in the region, mainly in the commercial and agricultural sectors.The governor of the province, colonel João Pereira Caldas, was installed in the municipality in 1762, which has a name of São João da Parnaíba.[2]
Parnaíba is located at Parnaíba River basin and is cut by that which divides into several arms forming the famous Delta of the only offshore of the Americas and the third largest in the world, second only to the Nile in Egypt and Mekong in Southeast Asia. One of these arms is the "river" Igaraçu where the port is located from barcase. Most of the city is on the right bank of the Igaraçu since the rest is in Big Island of Santa Isabel, now in Parnaíba River delta. The only beach of the city is the Pedra do Sal, ideal for surfing, kite surfing and wind surfing. Another source is the city Portinho Lagoon, one of the most famous tourist attractions, that due to the advance of the dunes may disappear. The city is located on land Cenozoic Quaternary and has altitude of about 5 meters in areas of the urban center which is away from the coast. It lies on the coastal plain and the topography is fairly regular. Mangrove vegetation and scrub predominates in the creeks and on river banks, coca crops in the rest of the territory. Megathermal semi-humid tropical climate predominates in the region, with high rate of rainfall due to the mass action Equatorial Atlantic during the months from January to June.
The municipality contains part of the Delta do Parnaíba Environmental Protection Area, created in 1996.
Second city in the state of Piauí, Parnaíba distinguished by beautiful landscape, marked by Carnaubais, and the relatively moderate commercial and industrial activity. Parnaíba is located on the right bank of the "river" Igaraçu, which actually is the southernmost arm of the Parnaíba River delta. Located near the coast, altitude 13m, lies 366 km from Teresina, the state capital of Piauí. The main economic activity is the export of Parnaíba carnauba wax, babassu oil, coconut oil, sheet jaborandi, cashew nuts, cotton and leather. The municipality also has industries of food and perfumery. For example, Vegeflora, Delta Cooperative Milk Long, Cobrasil, Q-Odor recycling Tannery Romao, Q-Odor and PVP SA. Parnaíba was honored with a zone processamente exports (ZPE). An area reserved for companies wishing to settle in the city produce for Brazil and the world. The Capital of Lower Parnaíba also has been increasing in agribusiness with production of camaraoes, fruit and milk. Tourism is gaining strength, and the city center of "rota das emoções" which is a tourist route between Lencois Maranhão, Parnaíba Delta Jericoacoara. In south of the city tourists can visit the National Park Ubajara (CE) and Sete Cidades (PI). There are several projects of resorts and hotels to be built in the city and region. In 2009, Parnaíba was considered the most dynamic city in the state, 5th in the Northeast and 32 of Brazil. It was the fastest growing city of Brazil in 2011, with a recorded growth rate of 229%. The city has invested R$34 million in 2011 from R$10.3 million that were applied in 2010.
Parnaíba has an international airport with a runway of 2500m. The airport and administered by INFRAERO. Starting on December 30, 2020, Azul airlines, the third largest airline carrier in Brazil, will fly every Sundays and Wednesdays straight (3 hours and 10 minutes) from Campinas (São Paulo) to Parnaíba (Piauí), these flights from Campinas (main Hub of Azul in Brazil) to Parnaíba will enable people from Lisboa, Miami, Orlando, Buenos Aires, Paris and southeast, mid-west, and south Brasil plus Manaus and Belém to arrive faster in Parnaíba Delta and Piauí cost much faster. On October, 2021, the Government of Piauí announced that Voepass airlines started this Friday (29th) the sale of airline tickets to two destinations that make up the Rota das Emoções: Parnaíba, in Piauí, and Jericoacoara, in Ceará. The routes will be made from the cities of Fortaleza (CE) and Teresina (PI), both of which are part of the list of new cities operated by the company.[3]
City also has a large irrigated perimeter, which has attracted people from different parts of Brazil to produce.
Two shopping centers, cinemas and bowling, and a theater are being erected in the city in the main boulevard, the Avenida São Sebastião.