MOSSOR

city, northwestern Rio Grande do Norte state, northeastern Brazil, on the Rio Apodi, 30 mi (48 km) from its mouth on the Atlantic coast, at 66 ft (20 m) above sea level. Formerly known as Santa Luiza de Mossor, it was given city status in 1870 and is now the state's second largest community. Salt from evaporated seawater and clay are the most important products of the region, but cotton is also widely cultivated. Textiles, carnauba wax, and oil of oiticica are produced in Mossor, which is accessible by railroad from Sousa (Paraba state) and by highway from Natal, the state capital (200 miles east-southeast), and other communities in Rio Grande do Norte and Cear states. The Regional University of Rio Grande do Norte (1968) is located in Mossor. Pop. (1991 prelim.) mun., 191,959.