KidZone Geography: Brazil

Bahia

Bahia Map

A map of Bahia, showing where it is in Brazil

Bahia is the fourth most populous Brazilian state with Salvador as a state capital. The name Bahia means bay and refers to what the colonial Europeans first saw as they approached the area from the sea in 1501. During the colonial era, Bahia was an extremely productive area for sugar and industry and it had a large immigrant population. The East of the state, nearer the ocean is rich and fertile with regular rain. The West however is much more arid. Mostly the state can be characterised as having a tropical climate. Industry forms the largest part of the economy, the state is a major exporter of Cacao.