Imperatriz is a Brazilian municipality in the state of Maranhão. The city extends along the northeastern bank of the Tocantins River and is crossed by the Belém-Brasília Highway, standing on the border with the state of Tocantins.

Economy

Most of the city's active labor is absorbed by the commerce and services. In spite of that, the primary and secondary sectors, specially agribusiness, still play an important role in the local economy. The farming of livestock supplies local slaughterhouses, which in turn allows Imperatriz to export meat to other states in Brazil and abroad. In addition to food processing and agribusiness, construction and non-metallic mineral processing are important. The area's most important crops are soy, rice and cassava. Recently, sugar cane has become important as well. According to IBGE, Imperatriz has a total of 5,657 commercial and 730 industrial enterprises. The city is served by Prefeito Renato Moreira Airport.

Demographics

Geography

Western Maranhão forms the boundary between the Amazon Rainforest and the vast savanna region, known as the Cerrado. Imperatriz is the place of intersection of many major roads and waterways. The landscape is characterized by gallery forests and stream valleys. Humid fields and palm paths are found where the water table is near the surface.

Climate

Imperatriz has a tropical savanna climate, with a wet season during spring and summer months (November to April), and a dry one during fall and winter months (May to November). July and August are the hottest and coolest months at once, when temperatures can range from 13 °C (55.4 °F) to over 40 °C (104 °F) within a single day. "Feels like" temperatures are always over 36–42 °C (96.8–107.6 °F). In rare occasions, cold snaps can make temperatures drop to as low as 12 °C (53.6 °F).