Porto Alegre is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. its population of 1,481,019 inhabitants (2016) makes it the tenth most populous city in the country and the centre of Brazil's fifth largest metropolitan area, with 4,405,760 inhabitants (2010).
The city became famous for being the first city that implemented participatory budgeting.
The city lies on the eastern bank of the Guaíba River (also referred to as a lake), where five rivers converge to form the Lagoa dos Patos, a giant freshwater lagoon navigable by even the largest of ships. This five-river junction has become an important alluvial port as well as a chief industrial and commercial center of Brazil. Products of the rich agricultural and pastoral hinterland, such as soybeans, leather, canned beef, and rice.
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