Fortaleza - City of Brazil

Fortaleza is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeastern Brazil. With a population of over 3.4 million , Fortaleza has an area of 313 square kilometres . To the north of the city lies the Atlantic Ocean; to the south are the cities of Pacatuba, Eusébio, Maracanaú and Itaitinga; to the east is the county of Aquiraz and the Atlantic Ocean; and to the west is the city of Caucaia. Residents of the city are known as Fortalezenses.

The Pinto Martins International Airport connects Fortaleza with major Brazilian cities and also operates international flights. The city is home to the Federal University of Ceará.

Fortaleza has a typical tropical climate, with high temperatures and high relative humidity throughout the year. However, these conditions are usually relieved by pleasant winds blowing from the ocean.

Fortaleza weather is unique in that there is usually rain during the first six months of the year, or from january to june. Expect that during this period, relative humidity is high, making Fortaleza climate extremely uncomfortable during several periods of the day. Relative humidity refers to the condition when water vapor is very much present in the air molecules. This is typical when the day is hot and there is too much moisture in the air from a short or sudden rain pour. Fortaleza climate is usually very dry like summer during the months of august to december, when it is winter in other parts of the world, especially those in the northern hemisphere.

Portuguese is the official national language, and thus the primary language taught in schools. But English and Spanish are part of the official high school curriculum.

Federal University of Ceará is a federal university with campuses in the cities of Fortaleza, Sobral and Barbalha, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. UFC is a public and tuition-free university, with several academic programs in most areas of knowledge.

In Fortaleza, the university has three main campuses: "Campus do Pici", with the most of the programs in science and technology areas, "Campus do Benfica", which harbors the university's administration and the programs in humanities, business, and the law school, and the "Campus do Porangabussu", with the medical school. The campuses of Sobral and Barbalha are new and have only a medical school each, which are extensions of the central medical school at Fortaleza.

Bumba-meu-boi or Boi-Ceará: songs and dances of a religious cult to the ox, with Portuguese roots.
Torém: dance originated by the tremembés.
Violeiros, cantadores and emboladores: musical manifestations expressing social criticism, has typical northeast origins.

The warm climate, warm ocean waters and the sandy beaches attract tourists. In recent years, many of the old hotels have been replaced by European-owned international resorts. Nightlife is full of festivities with bars, restaurants and shows as the primary attraction. The city is known for having the "wildest Monday nights in the world". Some of the best bars and clubs are found near Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture. The Praia de Iracema , the first urban nuclei of the city, is home to many bars and restaurants. It includes the Ponte dos Ingleses which is an ideal location for watching the sunset and spotting dolphins.

Fortaleza's urban beaches have warm waters. The scenery is complemented by the jangadas for catching seafood for the Ceará cuisine. The Praia do Futuro is a popular location with many beachside restaurants, built in the local style using carnauba straw and called "Barracas de Praia" .