Editing Fortaleza (section)

==Geography==
===Climate===
Fortaleza has a typical [[tropical climate]], specifically a [[tropical savanna climate|tropical wet and dry climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Aw/As''), with high temperatures and relative humidity throughout the year. However, these conditions are usually relieved by pleasant winds blowing from the ocean. Average temperatures are not much different throughout the year. December is the warmest month, with a high of {{convert|31.7|C|F}} and low of {{convert|24.9|C|F}}. The rainy season spans from January to July, with rainfall particularly prodigious in March and April. The average annual temperature is {{convert|27.0|C|F}}. The relative humidity in Fortaleza is 77.5%, with average annual rainfall of {{convert|1584.0|mm|in}}. There is usually rain during the first seven months of the year from January to July. During this period, [[relative humidity]] is high. Fortaleza's climate is usually very dry from August to December, with very little rainfall.<ref name="NCB-INMET"/>

Rainfall is akin to all of Northeastern Brazil among the most variable in the world, comparable (for similar average annual rainfalls) to central [[Queensland]] cities such as [[Townsville, Queensland|Townsville]] and [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]].<ref>Dewar, Robert E. and Wallis, James R; ‘Geographical patterning of interannual rainfall variability in the tropics and near tropics: An L-moments approach’; in ''[[Journal of Climate]]'', 12; pp. 3457-3466</ref> In the notorious drought year of 1877 as little as {{convert|468|mm|in|2|disp=or}} fell, and in 1958 only {{convert|518|mm|in|2|disp=or}}, but in the Nordeste's record wet year of 1985 Fortaleza received {{convert|2841|mm|in|2|disp=or}}.{{citation needed|date = May 2025}}
{{Weather box
|location = Fortaleza (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1931–present)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes

|Jan record high C = 35.2
|Feb record high C = 35.2
|Mar record high C = 34.8
|Apr record high C = 34.9
|May record high C = 33.6
|Jun record high C = 33.8
|Jul record high C = 33.9
|Aug record high C = 34.4
|Sep record high C = 34.6
|Oct record high C = 34.8
|Nov record high C = 34.8
|Dec record high C = 35.2

|Jan high C = 31.2
|Feb high C = 31.1
|Mar high C = 30.8
|Apr high C = 30.6
|May high C = 30.8
|Jun high C = 30.5
|Jul high C = 30.6
|Aug high C = 31.1
|Sep high C = 31.4
|Oct high C = 31.6
|Nov high C = 31.7
|Dec high C = 31.7
|year high C = 31.1

|Jan mean C = 27.4
|Feb mean C = 27.3
|Mar mean C = 27.0
|Apr mean C = 26.8
|May mean C = 26.8
|Jun mean C = 26.4
|Jul mean C = 26.2
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 27.0
|Oct mean C = 27.4
|Nov mean C = 27.7
|Dec mean C = 27.8
|year mean C = 27.0

|Jan low C = 24.5
|Feb low C = 24.3
|Mar low C = 23.9
|Apr low C = 23.8
|May low C = 23.8
|Jun low C = 23.2
|Jul low C = 22.8
|Aug low C = 22.9
|Sep low C = 23.6
|Oct low C = 24.3
|Nov low C = 24.7
|Dec low C = 24.9
|year low C = 23.9

|Jan record low C = 18.2
|Feb record low C = 19
|Mar record low C = 18
|Apr record low C = 18.8
|May record low C = 18.6
|Jun record low C = 17.9
|Jul record low C = 17.9
|Aug record low C = 17.7
|Sep record low C = 19.2
|Oct record low C = 20.3
|Nov record low C = 20
|Dec record low C = 19.4

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 156.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 187.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 336.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 385.0
|May precipitation mm = 229.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 130.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 69.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 20.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 13.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 9.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 9.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 37.1
|year precipitation mm = 1584.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 13
|Feb precipitation days = 14
|Mar precipitation days = 20
|Apr precipitation days = 21
|May precipitation days = 16
|Jun precipitation days = 10
|Jul precipitation days = 7
|Aug precipitation days = 3
|Sep precipitation days = 3
|Oct precipitation days = 3
|Nov precipitation days = 3
|Dec precipitation days = 5

|Jan humidity = 78.4
|Feb humidity = 80.4
|Mar humidity = 83.0
|Apr humidity = 85.1
|May humidity = 82.6
|Jun humidity = 79.9
|Jul humidity = 76.9
|Aug humidity = 73.3
|Sep humidity = 71.7
|Oct humidity = 72.0
|Nov humidity = 72.7
|Dec humidity = 74.4
|year humidity = 77.5

 | Jan dew point C = 23.6
 | Feb dew point C = 23.9
 | Mar dew point C = 24.3
 | Apr dew point C = 24.4
 | May dew point C = 24.0
 | Jun dew point C = 23.0
 | Jul dew point C = 22.1
 | Aug dew point C = 21.5
 | Sep dew point C = 21.6
 | Oct dew point C = 22.1
 | Nov dew point C = 22.6
 | Dec dew point C = 23.0
 | year dew point C = 23.0

|Jan sun = 220.4
|Feb sun = 183.0
|Mar sun = 172.7
|Apr sun = 152.8
|May sun = 211.9
|Jun sun = 219.2
|Jul sun = 254.2
|Aug sun = 288.5
|Sep sun = 287.1
|Oct sun = 294.2
|Nov sun = 287.7
|Dec sun = 274.2
|year sun = 2845.9

|source 1 = Brazilian National Institute of Meteorology (INMET)<ref name="NCB-INMET">{{cite web|url=https://portal.inmet.gov.br/normais|title=Normais climatológicas do Brasil|language=pt-br|author=INMET|accessdate=2023-02-10|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128200541/https://portal.inmet.gov.br/normais|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NCB-1931-1960">INMET. ''Normais Climatológicas do Brasil (1931-1960)'' (in Brazilian Portuguese). [[Rio de Janeiro]], 1979.</ref><ref name="bdmep.inmet.gov.br">{{cite web|url=https://bdmep.inmet.gov.br/|title=Banco de dados meteorológicos|language=pt-br|author=INMET|accessdate=2023-02-10|archive-date=20 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120002547/https://bdmep.inmet.gov.br/|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/FORTALEZA_82397.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Fortaleza
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 30, 2024}}</ref>
}}

===Vegetation===
In Fortaleza there are some remaining areas of [[mangrove]] in preserved areas, including [[Cocó Park]].<ref>[http://www.oktiva.net/oktiva.net/1364/nota/54393 Manguezal do Rio Ceará] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911142609/http://www.oktiva.net/oktiva.net/1364/nota/54393 |date=September 11, 2013 }} {{in lang|pt}}</ref><ref>[http://www.oktiva.net/oktiva.net/1364/nota/54403 Manguezal do Rio Cocó] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113122200/http://www.oktiva.net/oktiva.net/1364/nota/54403 |date=November 13, 2013 }} {{in lang|pt}}</ref>
Ten miles offshore is the [[Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park]], created in 1997 to protect the reefs.<ref>{{citation
 |ref          = {{harvid|Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio – SEMACE}}
 |title        = Parque Estadual Marinho da Pedra da Risca do Meio
 |publisher    = SEMACE, Governo do Estado do Ceará
 |url          = http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/parque-estadual-marinho-da-pedra-da-risca-do-meio/
 |access-date   = 2019-06-01
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161129023614/http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/parque-estadual-marinho-da-pedra-da-risca-do-meio/
 |archive-date = November 29, 2016
 |url-status     = dead
 |df           = mdy-all
}}</ref>

===Ecology and environment===
[[File:Fortaleza Parque do Coco.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cocó Park]], considered one of the largest [[urban park]]s in [[Latin America]], is the most important green area of the city.]]
[[File:Sunset in Fortaleza (1) - cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Fortaleza bay during sunset]]
[[File:Fortaleza_do_Futuro.jpg|thumb|Futuro beach in Fortaleza]]
The vegetation of Fortaleza is typically coastal. The [[restinga]] areas are found in [[dune]] regions near the mouths of the Ceará, Cocó and Pacoti rivers, in the beds of which there is still a mangrove forest. In other green areas of the city, there is no longer native vegetation, consisting of varied vegetation, fruit trees primarily.<ref name="ProjetoOrla">{{cite web |url=http://www.mma.gov.br/estruturas/orla/_arquivos/fortaleza_orla_11_08_06_verso_final_pdf1_11.pdf |title=Plano de gestão integrada da orla do município de Fortaleza |date=August 2006 |publisher=Ministério do Meio Ambiente do Brasil |access-date=February 22, 2015 |language=pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327122215/http://www.mma.gov.br/estruturas/orla/_arquivos/fortaleza_orla_11_08_06_verso_final_pdf1_11.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>  The city is home to seven environmental conservation units. These are the Sabiaguaba Dunes Municipal Natural Park, the Sabiaguaba Environmental Protection Area, the Maraponga Lagoon Ecological Park, the Cocó Ecological Park, the Ceará River Estuary Environmental Protection Area, the Environmental Protection Area of the Rio Pacoti and the [[Pedra da Risca do Meio Marine State Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/apresentacao.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015073439/http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/apresentacao.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2012|title=Meio Ambiente|publisher=Anuário de Fortaleza 2012-2013|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>  There is also, in the city, the Area of Relevant Ecological Interest of Sírio Curió, that protects the last enclave of [[Atlantic Forest]] in the urban zone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/area-de-relevante-interesse-ecologico-do-sitio-curio/|title=ARIE do Sítio Curió|publisher=SEMACE|access-date=March 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104238/http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/area-de-relevante-interesse-ecologico-do-sitio-curio/|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The Cocó River is part of the river basin of the east coast of Ceará and has a total length of about 50&nbsp;km in its main area. The park is inserted in the area of greater environmental sensitivity of the city, where it is possible to identify geoenvironmental formations such as coastal plain, fluvial plain and surface of the coastal trays. The Cocó river mangrove is home to [[mollusks]], [[crustaceans]], [[fish]], [[reptiles]], [[birds]] and [[mammals]]. The park has a structure of visitation, with guides, ecological trails and equipment and events of [[environmental education]] and [[ecotourism]]. The Coaçu River, affluent of the river Cocó, forms in its bed the lagoon of the Precabura.<ref name="anuariodefortaleza.com.br">{{cite web|url=http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/unidades-de-conservacao-estaduais-em-fortaleza.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015072914/http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/unidades-de-conservacao-estaduais-em-fortaleza.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2012|title=Unidades de conservação|publisher=Anuário de Fortaleza 2012-2013|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref><ref name="LagoasFOR">{{cite web|url=http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/lagoas-de-fortaleza.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015073037/http://www.anuariodefortaleza.com.br/meio-ambiente/lagoas-de-fortaleza.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2012|title=Lagoas de Fortaleza|publisher=Anuário de Fortaleza 2012-2013|access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Pacoti River|Rio Pacoti]] provides much of the water supply for Fortaleza.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/corredor-ecologico-do-rio-pacoti/|title=Corredor Ecológico do Rio Pacoti|publisher=SEMACE|language=pt|access-date=May 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506081715/http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/corredor-ecologico-do-rio-pacoti/|archive-date=May 6, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>  At the municipal boundary with [[Caucaia]], the estuary of the Rio Ceará is covered by an environmental protection area (APA), which was set up in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/area-de-protecao-ambiental-do-estuario-do-rio-ceara/|title=Área de Proteção Ambiental do Estuário do Rio Ceará|publisher=SEMACE|language=pt|access-date=May 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506061332/http://www.semace.ce.gov.br/2010/12/area-de-protecao-ambiental-do-estuario-do-rio-ceara/|archive-date=May 6, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>