Santos Dumont is a municipality in southern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The population is estimated to be 49,137 and the total area of the municipality is 639.1km2. It lies at an elevation of 839m just off the main interstate highway, BR040, between the urban centers of Barbacena and Juiz de Fora . It is 240km from the state capital, Belo Horizonte, and 220km from Rio de Janeiro. It became a city in 1889.ClimateThe average annual temperature is approximately 20C, with the average maximum of 21C, and the average minimum of 19C.EconomyAgricultureLivestock raising is the main economic activity with approximately 30,000 head of cattle and an annual production of milk of about 15000000l.The region produces corn, strawberries, guava, nectaries, manioc, beans, oranges, coffee, peach and banana.IndustrySantos Dumont has the Companhia Brasileira de Carbureto de Cálcio,, which produces silicone iron and metallic silicone, exporting to several countries.HistorySantos Dumont is the birthplace of aviation pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont and is named in his honour. Prior to the renaming the city was known as Palmira. The Cabangu museum, located 16km from the centre of the city is dedicated to his memory. It is located in the house where he was born and has personal objects, photos and an aviation museum.DemographicsSince the 1980s the municipality has been experiencing a period of slight demographic standstill. Between the census held in 1996 and the census held in 2000 the population increased at the rate of 0.32% per annum which is much lower than other places in the country. This is partially explained by the economic attraction of the nearby city of Juiz de Fora, making it the destination of many immigrants.