Castanhal is a city near the eastern edge of the state of Pará, Northern Brazil. It is located some 65 km east of the state's capital Belém and 50 km inland SE of the Bay of Marajo. It is accessed by car or bus via federal highway BR-316. The climate is tropical rainforest. With a population around 200,000, it is the fifth largest city in the state.
coordinates: 1° 18′ S, 47° 55′ W
Castanhal was officially founded on January, 28th of 1932 (date of certification) and received its name due to the common nut trees (portug: Castanha) around the train station of the Bragança - Belém railway. Workers from the Brazilian Northeast started settling around the station. Local farmers started selling their products at the new market. Though, the new marketplace Castanhal was founded. The Bragança railway was shut down in 1964 and the rails were removed. The government of the state of Pará gave Castanhal the nickname "cidade modelo" (Model Town). In 2004, Pope John Paul II erected the diocese of Castanhal, which is subordinated as a suffragan diocese to the archdiocese of Belém, Pará.
