Pernambuco

Federal unit (state) of northeast Brazil, on the Atlantic coast; area 101,000 sq km/39,000 sq mi; population (1991) 7,122,500; capital Recife (former name Mauritzstaadt). The state is situated mainly on the northeastern plateau, with a narrow fertile coastal belt. The River San Francisco flows along much of its southern border. Sugar cane, cotton, coffee, and sisal are grown in the east and cattle are raised in the west. There are steel and sugar refining industries.