Belo Horizonte (capital)

Belo Horizonte (a Portuguese name meaning "beautiful horizon", IPA: ['bɛlu oɾi'zõtʃi]) is the third largest metropolitan area in Brazil. It is the capital of Minas Gerais state, located in the southeastern region of the country. With a population of almost 2.4 million and over 5.3 million in the official metropolitan area, Belo Horizonte — or "Beagá" as it is more familiarly known from the sound of its initials BH in Portuguese — is a place of intense economic and cultural activity. Area code: XXX