Editing Belo Horizonte (section)

==Geography==
===Surrounding cities and metropolitan area===
[[File:Belo Horizonte at night.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Belo Horizonte from [[ISS]] at night.]]

The term "Grande BH" ("Greater Belo Horizonte") denotes any of various definitions for the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte. The legally defined ''Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte'' consists of 34 municipalities in total, and a population of around six million inhabitants ({{As of|2021|lc=y}}, according to Brazil's National Institute of Geography and Statistics ([[Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics|IBGE]])).<ref name="IBGE_Pop_2007">{{cite web | url = http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls | title = Estimativas / Contagem da População 2007 | date = November 14, 2007 | publisher = Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) | access-date = May 29, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080611205529/http://www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/populacao/contagem2007/popmunic2007layoutTCU14112007.xls | archive-date = June 11, 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="SIDRA">{{cite web | url = http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/listabl.asp?z=cd&o=17&i=P&c=793 | title = Tabela 793 – População residente, em 1º de abril de 2007: Publicação Completa | date = November 14, 2007 | publisher = Sistema IBGE de Recuperação Automática (SIDRA) | access-date = May 29, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110614223617/http://www.sidra.ibge.gov.br/bda/tabela/listabl.asp?z=cd&o=17&i=P&c=793 | archive-date = June 14, 2011 | url-status = live }}</ref>

The intense process of urbanization that is taking place in the metropolitan region has made some of the political boundaries between municipalities in the region obsolete.

The city is now composed of a relatively contiguous urban area, centred on Belo Horizonte, which extends out into municipalities such as [[Contagem]], [[Betim]], [[Nova Lima]], [[Raposos]], [[Ribeirão das Neves]], [[Ibirité]], [[Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais|Santa Luzia]] and [[Sabará]], among others.

The municipality is bounded to the north by [[Vespasiano]], to the north east by Santa Luzia, by Sabará to the east, by Nova Lima to the southeast, [[Brumadinho]] to the south and Ribeirão das Neves, Contagem and [[Ibirité]] to the west.

According to the current [[List of Intermediate and Immediate Geographic Regions of Minas Gerais|geographic classification]] by IBGE, the municipality belongs to the [[Immediate Geographic Region of Belo Horizonte]], in the [[Intermediate Geographic Region of Belo Horizonte]].

===Geology and geomorphology===
Belo Horizonte lies on a region of contact between different geological series of the [[Proterozoic]]. The geology largely comprises [[crystalline rock]]s, which give rise to the varied morphology of the landscape. It is located in a large geological unit known as the [[craton]] of [[São Francisco River|São Francisco]], referring to extensive crustal nucleus of central-eastern Brazil, tectonically stable at the end of the [[Paleoproterozoic]] and bordering areas that suffered the regeneration at the [[Neoproterozoic]].

The [[archean]] rocks members of Belo Horizonte complex and supracrustal sequences of the Paleoproterozoic is predominant. The area of Belo Horizonte complex includes the geomorphological unit called ''Depression of Belo Horizonte'', which represents about 70% of the municipality area and has its greatest expression in the northern [[Ribeirão Arrudas]] pipeline. The [[metasedimentary]] rocks has its area of occurrence on the south of Ribeirão Arrudas pipeline, constituting about 30% of the area of Belo Horizonte. The characteristics of this area are lithological diversities and rugged topography, which has its maximum expression in the ''Serra do Curral'' (Corral Ridge), the southern boundary of the municipality.

Its soil comprises a succession of layers of rocks of varied composition, represented by [[itabirite]], [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]], [[quartzite]], [[phyllite]]s and [[schist]]s different from the general direction northwest–southeast and dip to the southeast. The hills of Belo Horizonte are part of the [[Espinhaço Mountains]] and belong to the larger Itacolomi mountain chain. The highest point in the municipality is in the ''Serra do Curral'', reaching {{convert|1538|m|ft}}.

===Parks===
[[File:PESRM - Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola Moça.jpg|thumb|left|[[Serra do Rola-Moça State Park]].]]
A centre for conservation and preservation of animals and plants it has also developed environmental education projects. The Zoo, which encompasses a total area of 1.4&nbsp;million square meters, is located at the Foundation's headquarters and is regarded as one of the most complete in Latin America. It has a collection of close to 900 animals representing 200 species, from Brazil and other parts of the world, as well as the first public butterfly sanctuary in South America.

Pampulha Ecological Park is administered by the Zoo-Botanical Foundation of Belo Horizonte and was inaugurated on May 21, 2004. It is {{convert|30|acres|0|abbr=on}} of green area that offers to the population and the tourists a permanent programming of [[Natural environment|environmental]], cultural and patrimonial education.

The city contains the {{convert|102|ha}} [[Baleia State Park]], created in 1988 but still not implemented as of 2014.<ref>{{citation|language=pt|access-date=2017-01-16|ref={{harvid|MPMG aciona Justiça para assegurar implantação ...}}|title=MPMG aciona Justiça para assegurar implantação do Parque Estadual da Baleia em BH|date=October 6, 2014|publisher=Ministério Público de Minas Gerais|url=https://www.mpmg.mp.br/areas-de-atuacao/defesa-do-cidadao/meio-ambiente/noticias/mpmg-aciona-justica-para-assegurar-implantacao-do-parque-estadual-da-baleia-em-bh.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092530/https://www.mpmg.mp.br/areas-de-atuacao/defesa-do-cidadao/meio-ambiente/noticias/mpmg-aciona-justica-para-assegurar-implantacao-do-parque-estadual-da-baleia-em-bh.htm|archive-date=March 23, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
It contains part of the {{convert|3941|ha}} [[Serra do Rola-Moça State Park]], created in 1994.<ref>{{citation|language=pt|ref={{harvid|Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola-Moça – IEF}}|title=Parque Estadual da Serra do Rola-Moça|publisher=IEF|url=http://www.ief.mg.gov.br/component/content/198?task=view|access-date=2017-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160711133333/http://www.ief.mg.gov.br/component/content/198?task=view|archive-date=July 11, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Further|Climate of Brazil}}
[[File:Tempestade BH.jpg|thumb|right|Storm over the city]]

Belo Horizonte's has a [[latitude]] at 19'55" in the South [[tropical zone]]. Yearly temperatures average between {{convert|9|and|35|C|F|}}. The [[Köppen climate classification]] of the region is [[tropical savanna climate]] (''Aw''), milder due to the elevation, with humid/warm summers and dry/mild winters. Belo Horizonte is located about {{convert|500|km|mi|}} from the sea.

Even though inter-seasonal differences are not as pronounced as they are in temperate places, there is a contrast between spring and summer, and between fall and winter. The coldest month is generally July, with a lowest recorded temperature of {{convert|3.1|°C|0|abbr=on}}. The hottest month is usually January.

With an elevation of {{convert|852|m|abbr=on}},<ref>{{cite web|title=Belo Horizonte {{!}} History, Population, & Facts {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Belo-Horizonte|access-date=2022-01-15|language=en}}</ref> Belo Horizonte is cooled considerably by the relatively high elevation, which suppresses high maximum air temperatures experienced in nearby cities at lower altitudes. Belo Horizonte's climate is mild throughout the year. Temperatures vary between {{convert|11|and|31|C|F}}, the average being {{convert|22|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Winter is dry and mostly sunny, and summer is rainy.

{{Weather box
|location = Belo Horizonte (1991–2020, extremes 1949–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|width = 100%
|Jan record high C = 35.4
|Feb record high C = 35.2
|Mar record high C = 33.9
|Apr record high C = 32.8
|May record high C = 32.9
|Jun record high C = 30.5
|Jul record high C = 32.0
|Aug record high C = 34.0
|Sep record high C = 36.6
|Oct record high C = 38.4
|Nov record high C = 36.0
|Dec record high C = 34.8
|year record high C = 38.4
|Jan high C = 28.7
|Feb high C = 29.1
|Mar high C = 28.4
|Apr high C = 27.6
|May high C = 25.7
|Jun high C = 24.9
|Jul high C = 24.9
|Aug high C = 26.3
|Sep high C = 27.9
|Oct high C = 28.7
|Nov high C = 27.7
|Dec high C = 28.2
|year high C = 27.3
|Jan mean C = 23.7
|Feb mean C = 24.0
|Mar mean C = 23.5
|Apr mean C = 22.6
|May mean C = 20.6
|Jun mean C = 19.6
|Jul mean C = 19.4
|Aug mean C = 20.5
|Sep mean C = 22.0
|Oct mean C = 23.0
|Nov mean C = 22.7
|Dec mean C = 23.3
|year mean C = 22.1
|Jan low C = 20.0
|Feb low C = 20.2
|Mar low C = 19.8
|Apr low C = 18.8
|May low C = 16.6
|Jun low C = 15.4
|Jul low C = 15.2
|Aug low C = 15.8
|Sep low C = 17.4
|Oct low C = 18.8
|Nov low C = 18.9
|Dec low C = 19.5
|year low C = 18.0
|Jan record low C = 10.4
|Feb record low C = 10.0
|Mar record low C = 11.7
|Apr record low C = 8.4
|May record low C = 7.4
|Jun record low C = 3.1
|Jul record low C = 5.4
|Aug record low C = 6.2
|Sep record low C = 8.8
|Oct record low C = 9.4
|Nov record low C = 9.1
|Dec record low C = 12.8
|year record low C = 3.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 330.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 177.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 197.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 82.3
|May precipitation mm = 28.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 11.4
|Jul precipitation mm = 5.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 10.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 49.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 110.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 236.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 339.1
|year precipitation mm = 1578.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 15
|Feb precipitation days = 10
|Mar precipitation days = 11
|Apr precipitation days = 7
|May precipitation days = 3
|Jun precipitation days = 1
|Jul precipitation days = 1
|Aug precipitation days = 1
|Sep precipitation days = 4
|Oct precipitation days = 8
|Nov precipitation days = 14
|Dec precipitation days = 17
|year precipitation days = 92
|Jan humidity = 69.3
|Feb humidity = 66.2
|Mar humidity = 68.6
|Apr humidity = 66.3
|May humidity = 64.3
|Jun humidity = 62.6
|Jul humidity = 58.4
|Aug humidity = 54.0
|Sep humidity = 55.3
|Oct humidity = 59.9
|Nov humidity = 68.5
|Dec humidity = 71.0
|year humidity = 63.7
 | Jan dew point C = 17.9
 | Feb dew point C = 17.6
 | Mar dew point C = 17.7
 | Apr dew point C = 16.5
 | May dew point C = 14.1
 | Jun dew point C = 12.9
 | Jul dew point C = 11.7
 | Aug dew point C = 11.4
 | Sep dew point C = 12.9
 | Oct dew point C = 15.0
 | Nov dew point C = 16.8
 | Dec dew point C = 17.9
 | year dew point C = 15.2
|Jan sun = 182.6
|Feb sun = 190.8
|Mar sun = 190.0
|Apr sun = 201.5
|May sun = 215.4
|Jun sun = 223.8
|Jul sun = 236.6
|Aug sun = 244.8
|Sep sun = 211.2
|Oct sun = 204.4
|Nov sun = 164.7
|Dec sun = 162.0
|year sun = 2427.8
|source 1 = [[Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia]]<ref name=INMETtmax>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043914/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMAX.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMAX.xlsx
| title = Temperatura Máxima Mensal e Anual (°C)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMETtmed>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043931/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMEDSECA.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMEDSECA.xlsx
| title = Temperatura Média Compensada Mensal e Anual (°C)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMETtmin>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324044001/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMIN.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-TMIN.xlsx
| title = Temperatura Mínima Mensal e Anual (°C)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMETprecip>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043703/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PREC.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PREC.xlsx
| title = Precipitação Acumulada Mensal e Anual (mm)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMETprecipdays>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324044003/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PRENDIAS1.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-PRENDIAS1.xlsx
| title = Número de dias no mês ou no ano com precipitação maior ou igual a (1 mm) (dias)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMEThumidity>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043838/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-UR.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-UR.xlsx
| title = Umidade Relativa do Ar Compensada Mensal e Anual (%)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=INMETinsolacion>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220324043829/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-INSO.xlsx
| archive-date = March 24, 2022
| url = https://portal.inmet.gov.br/uploads/normais/Normal-Climatologica-INSO.xlsx
| title = Insolação Total (horas)
| work = Normais Climatológicas do Brasil 1991–2020
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
| language = pt
| access-date = March 24, 2022
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] (dew point),<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-3-WMO-Normals-9120/Brazil/CSV/BELO_HORIZONTE_83587.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020 — Belo Horizonte
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 30, 2024}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/station-1220-Belo_horizonte.php
| title = Station Belo Horizonte
| publisher = Meteo Climat
| language = fr
| access-date = October 20, 2018}}</ref>
}}