Mossoró (Portuguese pronunciation: [mosoˈɾɔ]) is the second most populous city^[2] in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and also the largest municipality of that state. It is equidistant (four hours' drive) from Natal (approximately 277 km or 172 miles), the state capital of Rio Grande do Norte, and from Fortaleza (approximately 260 km or 161.5 miles), the capital of the state of Ceará. It is also in the heart of Brazil's salt production area. Situated in the Oeste Potiguar mesoregion, Mossoró is the country's largest land-based petroleum producer.^[3]

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Mossoró
Municipality
The Municipality of Mossoró
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  "Capital do Oeste" ("The Capital of the West") and "Cidade do Sal e do Petróleo" ("City of Salt and Petroleum")
Motto:  Mossoró da gente. Fazendo nossa vida melhorar. (Our Mossoró. Improving our lives.)
Location in the Rio Grande do Norte
Location of State of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil
Coordinates: 5°11′16″S 37°20′38″W
Country	Brazil
Region	Northeast
State	Rio Grande do Norte
Founded	1852
Government
• Mayor	Allyson Leandro Bezerra Silva (Solidariedade)
Area
• Total	2,110.207 km2 (814.755 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (66 ft)
Population  (2020 [1])
• Total	300,618
• Density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−3 (BRT)
Postal code	59600-001 to 59649-999
Area code	+55 84
ISO 3166 code	BR-RN
HDI (2000)	0.735 – medium
Website	www.prefeiturademossoro.com.br

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To Brazilians, the main historical distinctions of the city are the driving off an attack by Lampião and his gang of "social bandits" (see Cangaço) that plundered entire towns in the sertão during the 1920s and 1930s; and also the fact that the city freed its slaves five years before the Lei Áurea abolished slavery in the rest of the country in 1888. Mossoró was also the first city to give women the right to vote in Brazil (Professor Celina Guimarães Viana cast the first vote in 1928), sparking a movement among other cities and states in Brazil that culminated in the official recognition of women's suffrage by the national government in 1934.

(96th largest municipality in Brazil).

Although it does not have beaches within its city limits, there are several beaches in the surrounding area of the Costa Branca Pole such as the desert beaches of the city of Areia Branca. Canoa Quebrada beach is a short drive away in the neighboring state of Ceará.

The Resistance Museum tells the story of the city and the city's native sons. However, the most famous attraction is the Mossoró Cidade Junina (Mossoró Junina City Festival), a winter festival (festa junina) that attracts more than a million people during the month of June.

The city has a historic town. Main attractions include the Museu Municipal Jornalista Lauro da Escóssia (Journalist Lauro da Escóssia Municipal Museum), also known as the Cangaço Museum, the Station Arts old railway station museum, the Oil Museum, St. Vincent Church, and the Cathedral of Santa Luzia. Other attractions include the Palace of Resistance, former residence of mayor Rodolfo Fernandes, who was the leader of the resistance against Lampião's bandits and served as a rampart against attacks from them. There is also the Bode Market, an ovine and caprine trading center where traders and buyers of sheep and goats continue the long-held rural traditions of the northeast, as well as the Central Market and the Railway Bridge.

In September, the city stages the Auto Da Liberdade (The Procession of Liberty) with an all-paid cast of 2,000 and a 600-member chorus as part of its Festa da Liberdade (Brazilian independence celebrations).

Mossoró also has a shopping center, Mossoró West Shopping.

Mossoró is also home to the Hotel Thermas Resort which is the largest thermal water park in Brazil. The heated water used in the resort arises from a zone of geothermal hot springs located in the vicinity of the city. The city is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mossoró.^[7][8]

• Canoa Quebrada Beach
• Ponta do Mel, Areia Branca
• Mossoró Old City Hall
• Rodolfo Fernandes Square

• Memorial da Resistência (Resistance Memorial)
• Mossoró Cidade Junina (Mossoró City Junina Festival)
• Petroleum Extraction
• Cathedral of Santa Luzia
• Mossoró, 1956. National Archives of Brazil.

• List of cities
• List of major cities in Brazil
• List of municipalities of Brazil
• Municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte (RN)