Origin of the name Volta Redonda
The name Volta Redonda has a geographical origin and is directly linked to the Paraíba do Sul River, which runs through the municipality of Rio de Janeiro. The name arose due to a sharp bend in the river's course, which forms an almost circular loop — a striking feature that impressed the first explorers of the region in the 18th century.
This natural peculiarity was identified by prospectors and colonizers who explored the area in search of gold and precious stones. The round bend in the river became a reference for location and, over time, began to name the village that grew there. The term remained and was eventually made official with the creation of the municipality in 1954.
Long before that, the area was inhabited by indigenous peoples such as the Puris and Acaris. With the arrival of the Jesuits in 1727 and the subsequent founding of the Santa Cruz Farm, the region began to be occupied by large rural properties. The origin of the name, however, kept alive the memory of the geography that shaped the birth of the city.
Today, Volta Redonda is known as the “Steel City”, but its name continues to pay homage to the natural landscape that gave it its identity.
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