Ubá

History

The Pomba River basin settlement took place, initially, due to the decline of mining activities. In the late 18th and early 19th century, several families left Mariana, Ouro Preto, and other mining centers in search of fertile land where they could undertake activities that would result in a more stable and secure incoming. The regions bathed by the Itajaí River, Chopotó River, Pomba River, among others, were of great interest because the land in those areas were of great fertility, and that they were previously inhabited only by natives (Coroados, Coropós and Purís) and adventurers. The attempts of colonization of Coroados, Coropós, Purís and Botocudos always ended in bloody battles between the indigenous people and the colonizers. During the battles, using arrows and axes against firearms, the natives were gradually slaughtered or made prisoners for slave labor, especially when it comes to young people and women. Due to the international pressure against the genocide of natives, the King of Portugal was convinced to order the Governor Luís Diogo Lobo da Silva to organize an expedition in an attempt to friendly approach the natives. In November 1767, Father Manoel de Jesus Maria was put in charge for the conversion of the natives to Catholicism, laying the groundwork for the entry of the owners of land grants after 1797. Captain Francisco Pires de Farinho, who was familiar with the tracks of forests and the indigenous customs, and was familiar with them, was named special guide with control power. Father Jesus Maria arrived at Uba River, where the Coroado natives lived. Those natives used a kind of grass, Gynerium sagittatum (in Portuguese, U-Uva), to make the arrows they used. For linguistic evolution U-Uva became Ubá. Between 1797 and 1798, the first land grants…

Geography

Ubá is situated in the Zona da Mata mesoregion of Minas Gerais. Most of the city lies in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, with a small part of it lying in the Doce River basin. The city is not surrounded by any large river. Ubá River crosses the city from northwest to southeast and is responsible for drainage of most sewers in the city. The city sits in a valley and has only 5% of its area flat, the rest being rugged. The altitude ranges from 295 meters to 875 meters. Ubá's climate can be classified as Tropical, with yearly average temperature between . The city is considered the warmest one in the Zona da Mata mesoregion, and the temperatures can reach over between November and February.

Most-observed species

• Saffron Finch

  Sicalis flaveola (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  88
• Ruddy Ground-Dove

  Columbina talpacoti (Temminck, 1810) · Aves
  82
• Black Vulture

  Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793) · Aves
  81
• Picazuro Pigeon

  Patagioenas picazuro (Temminck, 1813) · Aves
  76
• Rock Pigeon

  Columba livia J.F.Gmelin, 1789 · Aves
  76
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  74
• Great Kiskadee

  Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  73
• white-eyed conure

  Aratinga leucophthalma (Statius Muller, 1776) · Aves
  70