JUAZEIRO

city, northern Bahia estado (state), northeastern Brazil. It lies along the So Francisco River, at 1,224 feet (373 m) above sea level. Juzeiro became a city in 1878. It is the trade and transportation centre for an agricultural and livestock-raising region that is one of the driest areas of Brazil. From Juzeiro southward to Pirapora in Minas Gerais state, the upper course of the So Francisco River is navigable for shallow-draft river vessels. Goods are also transported by rail and highway to coastal Aracaju, 275 miles (443 km) southeast (in Sergipe state); to Petrolina, which lies across the river (there bridged) in Pernambuco state; and to neighbouring communities in Bahia. Pop. (1991 prelim.) mun., 128,378.