Satellite image of Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre (light gray area slightly west of center), the capital of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, is located along the east bank of the Rio Guaiba. Porto Alegre is one of several cities that are aligned in a north-south corridor of urban development in this region of southern Brazil. A substantial sediment plume from the Rio Guaiba is visible as it enters Lagoa dos Patos. The angular-looking field patterns around the periphery of Lago dos Patos shows an extensive concentration of agricultural activities, mainly rice fields. The dark blue-colored lake in the northeast corner of the picture is Lagoa dos Barros. Porto Alegre, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil Winter/Spring 1997.