SOBRAL

city, northwestern Cear estado (state), northeastern Brazil, on the Acara River. It was given town rank in 1773 and raised to city status in 1841. The city is a commercial, cotton-milling, and agricultural-processing centre; fishing also is important. Railroads and highways link Sobral to Fortaleza and to communities in Cear and Piau states. Pop. (1980) 69,208; (1991 prelim.) 92,805.