Ipatinga (Brazil)

Ipatinga is a municipality in eastern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The city was founded on 29 April 1964 and covers a total area of 164.8 km2 (63.6 sq mi). Its population is 227,731 as of 2022. It is part of the Vale do Aço (Steel Valley) metropolitan area (population 430,700). Ipatinga is at the site where the Piracicaba River flows into the Doce River. Located 217 km far from the state capital of Belo Horizonte, it is served by highway and railroad connections (Vitória-Minas Railway). There is also a medium-sized airport, Vale do Aço Regional Airport, in the area of the neighboring city Santana do Paraíso, that serves the Steel Valley and can receive small and medium-sized planes, including jets like the Boeing 737 and the Fokker 100.