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Lagoa da Prata
Lagoa da Prata
	; Lagoa da Prata
	Coordinates: 20°01′22″S 45°32′38″W / 20.02278°S 45.54389°W
Country	Brazil
Region	Southeast
State	Minas Gerais
Municipal incorporation	December 27, 1938
	Government
- Mayor	Antonio Divino de Miranda (PPS)
	Population (2006)
- Total	44,628
- Density	101.5/km2 (262.9/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-3 (UTC-3)
- Summer (DST)	UTC-2 (UTC-2)

Lagoa da Prata is a Brazilian city in the state of Minas Gerais. In 2006, its population was estimated to be 44,628.^[2] The city belongs to the mesoregion of Central Mineira and to the microregion of Bom Despacho.

[edit] Early history

In the 1700s, Lagoa da Prata was a settlement which mined gold around the São Francisco River. It was established as a town in 1789. In 1896, Cel. Carlos Jose Bernardes Sobrinho founded the city. He originally called it "Pântano" ("Quagmire" in English), later changing it to "São Carlos do Pântano" ("The Quagmire of Saint Carlos" in English).^[3]

In December of 1938, Lagaoa da Prata became established as a city.

[edit] The Theft of the Bank.

In Lagoa is known for many years, there was a bank robbery. It was in the city center. Assaulted him and fled on foot. There were no reports that were caught, but they say the old yes. They were arrested and paid for their crimes. The event marked the time, was on the radio in Brazil. Not today that Lake police in the news negatively.

Well. Burglars step into the bank after they fled on foot toward the farm Chico Lock. Stream passed over the farm and around the junction that gave tickets to coconut and the road studs, just a few hundred meters beyond the road Bripocal, there are hoses and other trees. They say the thieves stopped there to rest from theft, and renew their strength, for there was fresh water in large amounts, and provisions which they had left in order to feed, rest and re-engage in flight.

Joiner Zé Silverio and two of his sons also were there resting, they were already all day to take firewood to take to the city. At that time, the wood around the city was already low because of the cane. They stopped under the trees to rest after the wood has all assembled and superimposed on the oxcart borrowed. According Ze Silverio, surprised the way through "drag" and to which different individuals spoke. Do not laugh: talking down, all the time, stood up to observe the distance at the beginning of the road. Were four. Others had already left the place.

Zé Silverio also explained to them the shortest way to spend the San Francisco because it did not want to go by ferry. They had many weapons that were stored inside a wooden box too heavy. Zé Silverio and his sons helped the men to put them on the back of a horse bought nearby. Money is not missing of course.

Only when he reached the city is that he learned of the theft and the characteristics of men who were visiting the bank. Interestingly, the Ze sent a message through the "Fazinha" and the father of Tiriziu "to the police. He died without telling pr'os "homi" that despite the many weapons, most of them had no bullet. Were older than the pistols of Osvaldo Damascus.

The robbers told each other that a theft like that was a moment of luck. They wanted to pay to Ze Silverio with a note of one thousand dollars. It was a whole month of service of the woodwork when customers pay. Zé Silverio not accepted.

He said that was good money earned through the sweat of your face and that charity was priceless.

By Isaiah Ribeiro, Source: Official OPAPEL - Lagoa da Prata, Issue 641, of 23/05/08

[edit] Fire in Peat

As the cover of the OPapel 11 August 2000.

Fire grazing results in burning of more than 10 days.

"Smoke on the city was fire under the earth."

Click the image to open in a separate screen and larger size.

The town of Lagoa da Prata has an interesting curiosity, the peat. A kind of land that catches fire, rich in organic matter. Peat is formed through the accumulation of years of organic matter that settles in low areas brought about by the flood rains.

The fire began on July 30, 2000 and only 10 days after the arrival of the fire department Divinópolis that it tried to control it effectively, because previous attempts were unsuccessful. Several tractors had to turn over the land to put out the fire.

At the time the movement of patients in the emergency room due to respiratory diseases increased.

Similar situation also had occurred 20 years ago as reported Engineer Carlos Brazil Guadalupe. The city was all smoky like a polo industrial region of the peak of pollution in that region.

[edit] Modern day

The downtown region of Lagoa da Prata is situated on hilly terrain, and at the end of the high road is a church which overlooks the city. Usina Luciânia was a residential neighbourhood situated approximately 6 km away from downtown, but nowadays it is an industrial site owned by Louis Dreyfus Group.

In 1968, a series of beaches were constructed on the border of the lagoon to attract tourists. Today, the beaches remain Lagoa da Prata's main tourist attraction.^[4] Other tourist attractions include the Ponte de Ferro ("Bridge of Iron" in English) which is a bridge that crosses the São Francisco River, a cachoeira da Cemiguinha ("The Cemiguinha Waterfall" in English) and a series of painted caves and grottos.

The bus station ("Rodoviária") is called Terminal Rodoviária Pedro Roberto Amorim after the mayor who commissioned its construction.

[edit] Etymology

In English, "Lagoa da Prata" means "Silver Lagoon", the name of the lagoon which the city is named after. It is called Silver Lagoon due to the silver sheen the clean water reflects when the sun shines on it. Its striking colour has led to priests and missionaries visiting the city.